Merkley Votes to Remove Military Retiree Cuts

Senator Merkley has been outspoken in his opposition to the cuts.

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Or)

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate voted to move forward on a bill that would safeguard military retirees from changes to cost of living adjustments (COLA) that were included in the budget agreement passed last December.

“The budget deal passed last year had an outrageous provision: a cut to veterans’ pensions. These cuts must be reversed and I am pleased the Senate agreed tonight to move forward on a bill that would do that. Our vets have stood up for us, and we must stand up for them.”

Senator Merkley has been outspoken in his opposition to the cuts, cosponsoring a bill that would have replaced the cuts in December, and giving a floor speech to express his opposition to the cuts in January.

The proposed cuts would balance the budget on the backs of those who served careers in the U.S. military.

(For background, see the Salem-News.com article, Paul Ryan's Promise for Veterans: a Load of Crap)

Special thanks to Senator Jeff Merkley's office