Standing With Our Troops S. 11

Democrats understand that putting America’s security first means providing our troops, both the active duty and reserve components, and their families with the resources they need to protect our freedom.  S. 11 recognizes the sacrifices our troops make on our behalf by providing them the personnel, equipment, compensation, and benefits they need to them accomplish their mission. 

Increase Army and Marine Endstrength By Up To 40,000 By 2007.  All Americans have seen and heard of our overburdened and overstretched military.  S. 11 recognizes that need and adds up to 30,000 Army personnel and up to 10,000 Marines over 2 years to provide for our security.

Recognize the Sacrifice and Valor of Our Troops.  Reports show that the DoD may be dramatically underreporting U.S. casualties in Iraq.  S.11 requires the DoD to prepare a monthly report on casualties and establishes an advisory panel on medals and decorations to ensure that deserving servicemembers are honored. 

A National Guard and Reserve Bill Of Rights:

• Straight Answers About Deployment/Service Obligations.  S. 11 requires the Defense Department to report on the lessons learned in connection with deployment, extension of duty, and troop rotations.  It also requests that the Defense Department keep its commitment to limit the length of service for our citizen soldiers.
• Best Equipment.  In response to the widely publicized shortages of body armor, up-armored Humvees, and other vital equipment and gear, S. 11 would: establish an Office of Mobilization Planning and Preparedness within the National Security Council to plan and prepare for mobilization of private sector and other non-military entities during a national security emergency; require a report from the DoD on Armed Services needs with regard to reconstituting equipment stocks to recover from damage and destruction accumulated during recent combat operations; and authorize $8.5 billion to the Army and $2.1 billion to the Marines for reconstitution needs. 
• Better Representation Within Defense Department.  In order to ensure that the reserve component’s increased role is reflected in the Pentagon’s leadership, S. 11 would elevate the Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs to Deputy Undersecretary. 
• Timely Compensation.  GAO reports in November 2003 and August 2004 found that as many as 95 percent of reservists have experienced pay problems while deployed to Iraq, and that these problems have had a significantly adverse effect on these troops and their families.  S. 11 would create a position in DoD to implement the recommendations of the GAO to fix the reservist pay system. 
• Fulfill Our Commitments To Military Families.  Democrats also recognize the tremendous sacrifices made by family members of military personnel when their loved ones depart for duty.  They must face the difficult task of continuing to support their families and households.  S. 11 would ensure both financial and physical health for servicemembers and their families. 
• Provide Pay Security To Federal And Civilian Workers Called To Active Duty.  S. 11 provides pay security to military families by offering a tax credit designed to entice employers of reservists to make up the difference between their activated military pay and their civilian income; requires the federal government to make up the difference between reservists’ activated military pay and their civilian income; allows reservists to make certain tax-free withdrawals from IRA accounts; and makes allowances for wage payments made in income tax calculations and retirement plan management. 
• Provide Access To Health Care For All Reservists And Their Families By 2006.  A 2000 DoD survey found that 20 percent of reservists, including 40 percent of junior enlisted personnel, had no health care coverage while demobilized.  In 2004, Congress passed legislation authorizing reservists to obtain access to the military’s TRICARE health care program for 1 year for each 90-day period of active service.  While an important step forward, this provision only provides health care after a deployment is complete, and fails to provide the complete health care coverage necessary to ensure that reservists are medically ready to answer a call to duty. S. 11 provides access to permanent TRICARE coverage.   
• Increase Death And Survivor Benefit.  Death and survivor benefits provide the government an opportunity to help military families at their hour of greatest need.  S. 11 increases the death gratuity from $12,000 to $100,000.  It also lifts a prohibition against receiving both the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and Dependent and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits, and extends the thirty year limitation on paying SBP premiums to retirees who signed up for SBP between 1972 and 1978 (currently, those who joined after 1978 can stop paying premiums after 30 years). 

Fulfill Our Commitments To Our Taxpayers.  While we all support the brave Americans risking their lives in our nation’s defense, Democrats believe Iraq is the world’s problem and others should do their fair share.  Unfortunately, U.S. taxpayers have paid over 80 percent of reconstruction costs and over 90 percent of military costs in Iraq.  S. 11 requires the President to report to Congress on U.S., Iraqi, and foreign contributions to Iraq’s reconstruction before any new U.S. reconstruction funds are appropriated.  Furthermore, the President is required to certify to Congress that he has been unable to generate additional support from Iraqi oil revenues or other nations before any new U.S. reconstruction funds can be allocated.