Wounded bonus bill speeds through Senate

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Wounded bonus bill speeds through Senate
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Dec 14, 2007 19:44:46 EST

Before leaving for the weekend, the Senate passed the Wounded Warrior Bonus Equity Act, a bill guaranteeing that a combat-related injury would not cost a service member any bonus or special pay.

The bill, S 2400, passed by voice vote and with no debate. It is not final because the House of Representatives has not passed the same bill, but similar proposals are pending in the House.

Under the bill, a service member entitled to a bonus or special pay before being injured would receive the full payment — including annual installments — if separated or retired because of the injury.

The chief sponsor of the bill is Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who said he was hoping Congress would act quickly to fix a demoralizing policy. Sessions introduced the bill Dec. 3. Its speedy passage — no hearings on the bill were held — is a sign that it is not considered controversial and has wide bipartisan support.

Whether the House will go along is unclear. A similar bill is pending before the House Armed Services Committee, but House procedures also allow for quick passage of measures if they are not controversial.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/military_woundedbonus_senate_071214/