H.R. 2990 would provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees.
Detailed Summary
<b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</b>
Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 - <b>Title I: Compensation and Benefits for Members of the Armed Forces and Military Retirees - Subtitle A: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays </b>- (Sec. 101) Extends through 2010 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2009 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve Armed Forces.
<b>Subtitle B: Retired Pay Benefits </b>- (Sec. 111) Provides for the recomputation of retired pay and adjustment of the retired grade of reserve retirees recalled to an active status in the Selected Reserve for at least two years. Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to reduce the two-year service requirement for a member so recalled to serve as an adjutant or assistant adjutant general in the National Guard when the member serves for at least six months but fails to serve for two years as required by the laws of the state, district, or territory in which the member is serving.
(Sec. 112) Allows members who serve in an active reserve status in the Selected Reserve for at least two years after becoming eligible for active-duty (regular) retirement to elect a non-regular retirement for which they are qualified in lieu of the active-duty retirement. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to reduce the two-year service requirement for a member so recalled to serve as an adjutant or assistant adjutant general in the National Guard when the member serves for at least six months but fails to serve for two years as required by the laws of the state, district, or territory in which the member is serving.
<b>Subtitle C: Concurrent Receipt of Military Retired Pay and Veterans' Disability Compensation </b>- (Sec. 121) Extends through 2013 eligibility for the concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation for veterans who were retired or separated due to physical disability, regardless of their disability rating or years of service.
<b>Title II: Federal Employee Benefits - Subtitle A: General Provisions </b>- (Sec. 201) Provides, with respect to federal employees, credit for unused sick leave for annuity computation purposes.
(Sec. 202) Extends to federal employees who separated before March 1, 1991, (under current law, October 1, 1990) eligibility to receive an actuarially-reduced annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).
(Sec. 203) Revises the computation of certain annuities based on part-time service performed before April 7, 1986.
(Sec. 204) Allows federal employees under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) to deposit retirement refunds received, with interest.
(Sec. 205) Provides limited federal retirement credit for service in the District of Columbia (D.C.) of certain employees who transferred to federal government service after the D.C. service, but prohibits any D.C. service from being included in the federal annuity computation. Outlines the types of D.C. service that will qualify for the federal retirement credit. Requires certification of performance of the qualifying service.
<b>Subtitle B: Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance </b>- Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2009 or Non-Foreign AREA Act of 2009 - (Sec. 212) Revises federal employee locality-based comparability payments provisions to include U.S. territories and possessions, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, within a pay locality. Sets forth maximum rates of pay for Senior Executive Service (SES) personnel in such areas.
Revises the calculation of allowances based on living costs and conditions of environment for pay of employees stationed outside the continental United States or in Alaska to apply it only to areas designated as of December 31, 2009. Provides a formula for adjustment of such rate using a transition schedule for calendar years 2010 and thereafter.
(Sec. 213) Requires adjustment of special rates of pay determined to be necessary to obtain or retain the services of persons specified by statute in such a cost-of-living area in accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under this Act.
(Sec. 214) Provides a phased transition schedule for the amount of special rates during the transition period of January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2012, allowing the full amount thereafter.
(Sec. 215) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the correction of pay disparities for federal positions located in Alaska, Hawaii, or a U.S. territory and sets forth savings provisions.
(Sec. 216) Applies the non-foreign area pay adjustment provisions of this Subtitle to certain other federal employees, including employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and postal employees.
(Sec. 217) Allows an employee subject to this Act's transition schedule who retires from service during the period from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2012, to elect to have any COLA paid during that period considered as basic pay for purposes of annuity computation. Provides for appropriate contributions into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Retirement Fund.
<b>Title III: Deepwater Oil and Gas Research and Development Funding Source Repeal </b>- (Sec. 301) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal provisions: (1) requiring the deposit of certain funds received from oil and gas leases into the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Research Fund; and (2) establishing the Fund.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 6/25/2009: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 572 , H.R. 2990 is laid on the table.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Mark Luc
June 29, 2009, 4:44pm (report abuse)Again, we get the short end of the stick. Retired Vets that are under Chapter 61, with less than 20 years, should plan on picket the recruiting offices nation wide, making the comment of promise's that the gov't makes can not be trusted.
Sgt V.
June 30, 2009, 9:37am (report abuse)This is what we've been waiting for, although it's not perfect, it's a step in the right direction towards what ALL disabled veterans have earned and need to continue there life as citizen soldiers.
ldwms1979
(logged in user) July 8, 2009, 9:17am (report abuse)what about the people that has less than 20 years and was forced out because of an injury that was no fault of their own, they put you out because you could not preform your duties any longer, they refuse to let you change your MOS they send you to a medical board and out you go!! they give 30% and say have a good life. then they take it back by taking your retired pay and now they won't include you in the HR 2990. is this a joke or what?
WisVet54
July 9, 2009, 11:12am (report abuse)This legislation is unacceptable. It is little more than a very small bone thrown to a few veterans rather than fixing the long-time outrage of essentially making disabled vets pay for their own disability payments from their earned retirement. You'd be hard pressed to find any other group treated as poorly as veterans but, since we make up such a small percentage of the population, we're easily ignored. More of the same half-stepping on doing the right thing from our politicians.
funkydunk15
July 9, 2009, 2:48pm (report abuse)what about us veterans that were wounded in action have a total 70% disability and are rated at 100% unemployable. Retired after stepping on a landmine,then get a whole 60.00 concurrent pay. WTf.....We still have to live and pay our bills.1
JLGO
July 14, 2009, 5:11pm (report abuse)This bill is okay, its a start. All chapter 61 are going to see their DOD retirement money for 9 months. At least someone is actually doing something, it pass the House, now its got to pass the Senate and then signed by President Obama.
thamms
July 17, 2009, 12:30pm (report abuse)The bill is a start but I hope that they keep it and included the rest of the Chpater 61 veterans along with the rest of the veterans who served 20 years or more no matter what percent they are receiving from Va.
Kelly
July 21, 2009, 12:49am (report abuse)I strongLY support this bill which begins to rectify a structural inequity for those service members retired for disability with less than 20 years service.
It's overdue, and it corrects a disparity which placed a burden on those less able to afford it.
Full concurrent receipt was granted for personnel whose longevity passed the 20 year mark. Leaving out those disabled members with less that the magic 20 years was grossly unfair.
And, yes, I AM one of those who was disabled with less than 20 years' service.
Bill Star
July 22, 2009, 8:57pm (report abuse)HR 2990 is a good bill but here is some food for thought: The U.S. Navy said that I have under 20 years so they retired me at 50%. My disability is rated at 100% through the VA. So do I get 50% of my Navy pay or 100% since the VA rates disabilities? Who has the last word, the VA or the DoD?
MSG Ray Manzano USA retired
July 24, 2009, 7:22pm (report abuse)I’ve been in the Army from 1972 to 2007. I was medically discharge at 30% with 10.5 years active and the rest in reserve time. I’m VA rated at 70% now. So my retirement check from the Army is about $1500.00 a month but after they take out for SBP and the VA I get $17.00 for retirement. If I had retired from some where else I’d get my VA disability check and a full retirement check. I think it’s outrageous that I have to pay for my own disability. Why are all my years of service to my country worth only $17.00. We earned and deserve our retirement why are we penalized. And I don't get either CDRP or CRSC.There are so many bills and none of them are getting passed.(S1008,S546,HR2990,HR2302,HR333,HR303 and HR811.
Ann King
July 26, 2009, 5:58pm (report abuse)I have been watching the senate for several weeks debating all sorts of amendments that have been attached to the National Defense Authorization bill. What a joke these people are! Amendments that should never have been on this bill have taken up a lot of time, time that could have been used debating issues that directly affect the veterans and active duty people. Equipment, that put lots of money in the contactors' pockets always gets more attention than people. We are the ones who have to keep pressure on congress to get our issues looked at seriously.
jack w. virgin, yn1, usnr(tar) retired
August 4, 2009, 11:02am (report abuse)i am retired from the naval reserve(14 years active service and 6.5 yrs active reserve and i started drawing my retired pay at age 60. i am 30 percent disabled(hbp and arthritis) according to the va, i have not been able to walk or earn a living for 9 years. i have tried to get the va with political help to increase my disability. they will not. i give up 421 of my retirement pay every month to pay for mmy disability pay from the va. why are we picked out to be forgotten. i completed 20 years service as did many others?
william e fair
August 8, 2009, 3:38pm (report abuse)i was a career soldier with over 191/2 yr active duty because i did not have 5 more months service time a person with the same disablity as mine can receive both crpd and va compensation but i can"t it is not fairB
Chief Quitoriano aka chief Q
September 6, 2009, 5:52pm (report abuse)i retired as 100% disabled and rated 100% from VA and medically retired from the Navy. So how much I should be receiving now that Im already permanent retired as disabled. pls help me. thanks
Chief Quitoriano ENC(SW/AW) Retired
JLGO
September 24, 2009, 5:06pm (report abuse)I think that this H.R.2990 passed the senate but in the H.R.2647 form back in July 23 of 2009. Seems to me that senate did pass CDRP for all Chater 61 retirees.
JLGO
September 24, 2009, 5:31pm (report abuse)Hey Chief Q, I believe that you'll get your all of your earned retired pay.
ENC Q
October 10, 2009, 1:53pm (report abuse)thank you for the help big man jlgo
SFC. Pinga
October 11, 2009, 10:48am (report abuse)There is no updates in H.R.2990 because this H.R.2990 got married with H.R.2647. Now the bill's name is H.R.2647. Hey it expands concurrent receipt for all chapter 61 retirees through 2013. Its a start. Now the the earned retired pay will be payed by DFAS in the pay method A which is basepay x disability percent or basepay x 2.5% x years in service. I believe that CDRP will be in which ever is greatest. The H.R.2647 will be signed by President Obama by the end of October. Its about time that the Goverment do something about this racist bill.
CWO Carl Huey pilot
October 26, 2009, 11:49am (report abuse)SFC Pinga,Are you sure about this full retired pay. Does this pertain to those of us that have had these CPI increases over the years or does it fall back to the percent/years of service rule as CRSC. Instead of my CRSC being for the amount less the offset, they only started me over at my retired pay from 1970 for the CRSC and there was NO RECOMPUTATION!!! Will they do this again????
Chief Quitoriano
October 31, 2009, 2:11pm (report abuse)and when should it start to happen. because they have been waiving $814.00 monthly since october 2007. please I need help here, all the assistance I can get.my earned retired gross pay is 2789 dollars and only recieving a total of 1969 a month. is this fair?
TSgt B (medically ret)
November 5, 2009, 7:10am (report abuse)Gents, Don't hold your breath. President signed HR2647 and silently removed anything regarding concurrent receipt for those with less than 20 yrs. S546 is another version being supported in the Senate. Keep writing your Congressmen and Senators, maybe they'll listen one day. After this President promised to take care of Vets and did this, I don't expect him to help us either. Maybe the next one will! Meanwhile, put life on hold for your family, right? I'm with the fella earlier saying,..."WTFO!"
JLGO
November 5, 2009, 4:37pm (report abuse)The people in charged don't care, they get the big bucks, while we, the persons who got injured protecting the persons making the big bucks get screwed. I am hoping that something passes thru for us VETS before January 2010.