LEGISLATIVE ALERT #07-07
July 13, 2007
The Issue: Reduced Age Retirement for Members of the Reserve Component
Immediate Action Required: Contact your Senators and urge them to support SA 2049, the amendment offered by Senator Chambliss to the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1547) that would credit qualifying active duty service to reduce the age to collect reserve retirement pay retroactive to September 11, 2001 .
Senator Chambliss introduced S. 648 earlier this session to reduce the age in which members of the Reserve Component are eligible to receive retirement pay (currently the age is 60). S.648 as originally introduced would have amended Title 10 to reduce the eligible age for receipt of non-regular military service retired pay for members of the Ready Reserve in active federal status or on active duty for significant periods on or after September 11, 2001 (age to be reduced by three months for each 90 days of being called to active duty for Title 10 wartime duty or Title 32 response for a national emergency declared by the President). Under this provision, the age may not be reduced below 50 years of age.
The Senate Armed Services Committee in its markup of the National Defense Authorization Act, S. 1547, incorporated most of S. 648 but would credit only qualifying service after the legislation is enacted, not any active duty service retroactive to September 11, 2001 .
To correct this inequity Senator Chambliss has offered a Senate floor amendment to the Fiscal year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, SA 2049, to restore the key omitted language of S. 648 by crediting all qualifying active duty service on or after September 11, 2001 .
As the Senate debates this amendment, they need your input immediately. The time to act is now. Your email, letter or call could make the difference.
TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION:
By using the “Write to Congress” feature on the NGAUS Web site at www.ngaus.org, you can IMMEDIATELY e-mail your elected representatives. A sample letter is included in our “Write to Congress” feature. You can e-mail the pre-written message or edit the sample letter as you desire. This is the quickest and most effective method of expressing your views to Congress. Also, contact your friends and family and urge them to "Write to Congress" as well. For more in-depth information and background visit our web site at www.ngaus.org. Please direct any questions concerning this issue to Pete Duffy, NGAUS Deputy Legislative Director at 202-454-5307 or via email: pete.duffy@ngaus.org.
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