Press Releases

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett Introduces Bill to Modernize Disability Income for Combat-Wounded Soldiers

Washington, Apr 2, 2007 -  

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett has introduced H.R. 1732, “The Combat Wounded Disability Income Modernization Act of 2007.” “This bipartisan bill would ensure America fulfills our obligation to assist members of the Armed Forces who become permanently disabled by combat injuries,” said Congressman Bartlett. “H.R. 1732 would modernize the disability formulas by creating a new optional alternative compensation system for members of the Armed Forces who have been severely injured.”

Congressman Bartlett said, “The sons and daughters of our nation have volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces for our nation. They have offered to go into harm’s way to protect our nation of 300 million. Americans want to fulfill our obligation to help those who have been injured in combat since 9/11 and permanently disabled. Under my bill, we would ensure that these men and women would be compensated with disability incomes at least the average salary level of current high school graduates.”

Once a wounded Service Member is discharged from the service, he/she is compensated for his/her loss of income earning potential by either the Department of Defense (DoD) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Unfortunately, both the DoD and the VA disability compensation tables are outdated. As a result, some of our severely wounded service members may receive poverty level disability compensation for the remainder of their lives.

For instance, a Lance Corporal who while in a full duty status earned $1,630 a month, would be given less then $815 a month by the DoD if he/she happens to be 50% disabled. The VA would pay only $712 a month to a service member who is 50% disabled. By contrast the average High School graduate in America earns $35,000 a year.

Under Congressman Bartlett’s bill, H.R. 1732, the same wounded soldier would have the option to receive $1,458 per month. The optional rates are based on the average monthly salary ($35,000 annually) for a High School graduate in the United States and would be indexed, adjusted annually, for inflation. It would apply to members of the Armed Forces injured in armed combat after September 11, 2001. It would affect no other benefits for which they are eligible.