Cold War Veterans Blog

House throws support behind stop-loss pay

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jun 13, 2008 7:48:12 EDT

In what is at least a symbolic sign of support for giving extra cash to people whose military service is involuntarily extended by stop-loss orders, 21 members of the House of Representatives are cosponsoring a bill that would provide a $1,500 monthly special pay for each month of extra service.

The bill, HR 6205, is an exact duplicate of the Stop Loss Compensation Act of 2008 that was introduced May 22 in the Senate.

The bills hold the promise of $1,500 for each month of extended service for anyone whose retirement or separation was delayed by stop-loss orders since Oct. 1, 2001.

Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, is the chief sponsor of the House bill. In May, Sutton sponsored a nonbinding resolution that asked the Army to quit using stop-loss.

After Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., introduced bill that would pay $1,500 a month for those held by stop loss, she volunteered to be the chief sponsor in the House and collected 20 co-sponsors.

“After honorably serving their country, too many of our brave service men and women are being told they cannot return home to their families when scheduled, instead being forced to serve additional tours of duty,” Sutton said in a statement. “This is unjust and it undermines the voluntary nature of the military.”

Sutton said she understands that stop-loss helps the military by providing temporary relief to personnel movements, but she suggested the long-term effect is harmful because it could deter people from enlisting.

“Instead of forcing soldiers to serve, the Army should work to increase recruitment by supporting policies such as the new GI Bill, which will improve educational benefits for service members, helping them transition back to civilian life and begin successful careers,” Sutton said.

Sutton’s bill is largely symbolic because there is little chance the House of Representatives will act on it as a separate measure, and the House already has passed its version of the annual defense policy bill that includes pay and benefits changes, according to congressional aides.

However, Sutton’s introduction of the bill and her quick collection of cosponsors — with more possible — could end up helping if Lautenberg is able to get his proposal attached to the Senate version of the defense authorization bill, which has not yet passed the full Senate.

Cosponsors of HR 6205, all Democrats, are: Michael Arcuri and Maurice Hinchey of New York; Bruce Braley of Iowa; Steve Cohen of Tennessee; John Conyers Jr. of Michigan; Phil Hare and Janice Schakowsky of Illinois; Alcee Hastings of Florida; Mazie Hirono of Hawaii; Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas; Steve Kagen and Gwen Moore of Wisconsin; James Langevin of Rhode Island; James McGovern of Massachusetts; Michael Michaud of Maine; Ed Perlmutter of Colorado; Laura Richardson and Lynn Woolsey of California; Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire; and John Yarmuth of Kentucky.

Lautenberg has two cosponsors for his bill, S 3060, also both Democrats: Robert Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.