Freshman Reps. Betty Sue Sutton (OH-13), Mazie Hirono (HI-02), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03), and Steve Cohen (TN-09) have joined 16 other Congressional Democrats in introducing legislation that, according to the Army Times, "is at least a symbolic sign of support for giving extra cash to people whose military service is involuntarily extended by stop-loss orders."
The Army Times story continues:
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.
More information follows below.
On Memorial Day, georgia10 reported on the Senate legislation:
Dems Offer Stop-Loss Payment Bill
Aamer Madhani of the Chicago Tribuen reports, via the June 15 Los Angeles Times, on the human costs of the Bush Administration's stop-loss policies:
Kristofer Goldsmith was so distressed about the prospect of returning to Iraq that he decided he was willing to kill himself to avoid serving a second tour.
. . .
Soon after he was admitted to the Winn Army Community Hospital at Ft. Stewart, Ga., a top noncommissioned officer from his brigade's rear detachment visited the young sergeant, along with an Army psychologist, to discuss discharging him from the military.
"We all agreed that it was for the best that my Army career come to an end then," said Goldsmith, who added that he'd scrawled the words "stop-loss killed me" in marker on his body before his suicide attempt.
Despite the undue pressure placed on our women and men in uniform, the Bush Administration has made it clear that the policies will not change.
Top military officer: 'stop loss' won't end soon
The least we can do is ensure that extra compensation is provided. Like georgia10 says, it's common-sense legislation. And it should be a bipartisan measure, although only Democrats have signed on so far. Won't you please ask your Rep. to co-sponsor HR 6205 and your Senators to co-sponsor S 3060? Thanks!