Blind Veterans Fairness Act

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3997) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide earnings assistance and tax relief to members of the uniformed services, volunteer firefighters, and Peace Corps volunteers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, Martin Luther King said, ``Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.''

Those that volunteer to serve our country deserve our thanks and our support. Members of our Armed Forces make tremendous sacrifices as they honorably perform their duties and deserve so much in return for their service.

The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Act is an important piece of legislation that would eliminate many inequities that presently exist in Federal statutes affecting those performing service to our country.

The bill makes several improvements in the Tax Code for servicemembers and their families. It includes a provision to remove obstacles for Americans who wish to serve our Nation overseas through the Peace Corps by providing relief from capital gains taxes on the sale of a home.

Additionally, the bill makes several important changes to the Supplemental Security Income program, known as SSI. The SSI program provides critical benefits for servicemembers who are caring for a severely disabled spouse or child. This bill would change SSI's treatment of certain forms of military compensation when determining SSI eligibility and benefit amounts for military families. As a result, more military families will be able to benefit from this important safety net. This bill would remove penalties that presently exist for blind,

disabled, and elderly veterans under the SSI program.

And, finally, the bill would end the disparate treatment of compensation that is paid to some AmeriCorps volunteers but not to others under the SSI program. This modest change would enable disabled Americans to serve their country and their community despite their disability. For some Americans, AmeriCorps can provide a pathway for the disabled to gain the skills to reenter the workforce.

At this time, I would like to enter into the Record the following documents.

Stories of Americans With Disabilities in National Service

People with disabilities volunteer for the same reasons

that anyone else does--to give back to their communities, to

improve their surroundings, and to be active and engaged in

life. Some national service participants who have

disabilities volunteer with organizations that serve other

people with disabilities, while others focus their efforts on

helping to meet a wide range of critical community needs. The

individuals profiled here represent a small sampling of the

many people with disabilities involved in the Corporation for

National and Community Service's Senior Corps, AmeriCorps,

and Learn and Serve America programs.

americorps*state and national

Steve Hoad, AmeriCorps Alumnus 2001, AmeriCorps*VISTA

Alumnus 2003 Augusta, Maine; disability: blind.

Steve Hoad served with the Maine Conservation Corps in

Augusta as a coordinator of volunteers on a statewide basis.

The program, called SERVE--Maine (State Environmental

Resource Volunteer Effort for Maine), identifies volunteers

for outdoor or natural resource projects sponsored by

government agencies or nonprofit groups. As a person who is

blind, Steve thinks it's important for lots of organizations,

including the Corporation for National and Community Service,

to address inclusion. Steve feels his contributions are

important for the additional reason that, in his opinion, ``.

. . people with disabilities have been left on the sidelines

and pushed into isolation by a couple of different ideas that

people seem to have. One is that because maybe someone looks

different or acts differently or speaks differently, that

they're not as smart; and the other is that because someone

is disabled, they can't contribute anything, they need to be

helped. Those two ideas become very exclusionary.''

americorps*vista

Dawn Facka, AmeriCorps*VISTA Alumna 2001, Anchorage,

Alaska; current location: Charleston, South Carolina;

disability: hearing impaired.

Dawn Facka, a service-learning coordinator with

AmeriCorps*VISTA, advocates for people with disabilities and

serves as a role model for young men and women with

disabilities that come to serve in AmeriCorps Programs. In

addition, she teaches others about the importance of

inclusion and facilitates disability awareness and diversity

training to AmeriCorps*NCCC members. She strives to create a

work environment that is welcoming and understanding to those

individuals with disabilities by advocating for community

involvement and supporting organizations that support and

help individuals with disabilities. She says that ``If

AmeriCorps, had not opened the doors of opportunity to me, I

most likely would still be ashamed and embarrassed of who I

am and [how] society has labeled me. I would still be

apologizing to people who did not tolerate or accept my

hearing loss. I can't begin to show my gratitude . . . to

AmeriCorps for showing me another world.''

americorps*nccc

Joe Tierney, AmeriCorps*NCCC Alumnus 2001 and 2002,

Charleston, South Carolina; current location: Boston,

Massachusetts; disability: traumatic brain injury.

Joe Tierney dedicated two years of his life to service with

Americorps*NCCC. During these years he tutored children,

built houses, designed and built wheelchair ramps, surveyed

and mapped a historical graveyard, blazed trails, worked at a

camp for children and adults with disabilities, and much

more. Of his time there he writes, ``Throughout my service I

met some amazing individuals, traveled to some fascinating

locations, and learned a variety of skills, but most

importantly my service gave me the opportunity to recover,

the ability to experience life with a smile. I made the

decision to join AmeriCorps because I felt an obligation to

give back, I understood that I was very fortunate to have

recovered and that I would have never done it without the

help of many thoughtful, committed, competent individuals.''

learn and serve america

Jared (not his real name), Learn and Serve America Alumnus

2002, Hampshire, Massachusetts; current location: Hampshire,

Massachusetts; disability: significant disabilities.

Jared (not his real name), a high school student with

significant disabilities, participated fully in a water

quality testing initiative though a school-based service-

learning project in Western Massachusetts. During the

project, Jared spoke of all that he learned about water

quality and the effects on the environment. His family and

teachers were impressed with the project because it provided

Jared with a meaningful experience to give back to his

community as well as taught him vital life skills. His mother

speaks of the project as being one of the few opportunities

Jared has had to mingle with other students outside of

special education.

rsvp

Dean Homerick, RSVP Volunteer, current location: Lexington,

Ohio; disability: debilitating arthritis.

Dean Homerick began service as an RSVP volunteer as soon as

he became eligible--the day he turned 55. He is involved in

environmental issues and emergency operations. He volunteers

regularly at the Columbus Zoo, participating in education

programs to teach children about animals, as well as

volunteering at a local nature center and at the Ohio Bird

Sanctuary, where he edits a monthly newsletter. He also

volunteers for the American Red Cross and is the volunteer

coordinator for the Richland County Emergency Operations

Center, charged with alerting volunteers in the event of an

emergency.

corporation for national and community service

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides

opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to

serve their communities and country through three programs:

Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. This

year, more than 1.6 million individuals will participate in

the Corporation's programs, helping thousands of nonprofit

organizations, faith- based groups, schools, and government

agencies build their capacity to meet critical local needs in

education, the environment, public safety, disaster relief,

and other areas. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the

Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship,

service, and responsibility in America.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal).

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to allow Mr. Neal to handle the rest of the time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague, the gentleman from Connecticut, has outlined a number of provisions in this bill, we come together today not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans. We are united in our respect for those who wear the uniform of the United States Armed Forces, and we are united in our desire to ensure that Federal programs within the Ways and Means Committee's jurisdiction from the Tax Code to the SSI program work effectively for members of the military, veterans, first responders and their families.

Let me begin by also thanking Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member McCrery, as well as Chairman Neal, Chairman McDermott, and Ranking Members English and Weller, for their outstanding leadership in crafting this legislation. This bill is a great example of what we can accomplish when we put our differences aside and work together. I am hopeful that the revisions we are making to this legislation today will be taken up in short order by the other body.

I would also like to highlight two specific provisions in the bill that have been of particular interest to me during my time in Congress. The first provision, section 202, is modeled on legislation, the Blind Veterans Fairness Act, that I first introduced in the year 2000. My legislation would correct a problem in the Federal SSI rules and affects blind veterans in four States, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, that provide these veterans modest annuities in recognition of the substantial sacrifice they have made to serving our country.

Regrettably, under current Federal law, these State annuities actually reduce any SSI payments for which blind veterans would otherwise be eligible. As we heard from Michelle LaRock of our New York City's Division of Veterans Affairs at our Ways and Means hearing in October, this quirk in the Federal SSI rules creates a hardship not only for the affected veterans themselves, but for the States that administer these annuity programs as well. As in years past, the bill I introduced in the 110th Congress, H.R. 649, has enjoyed bipartisan support.

Let me turn briefly to a separate provision, section 107 of the bill, which will permanently allow penalty-free withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement funds for Reservists and National Guardsmen called to active duty. As we all know, when Guardsmen and Reservists are called up from our States, they often face significant reductions in pay compared to their civilian salaries, put an economic strain on their families. To lessen this economic hardship, many of them

choose to draw down on their retirement funds.

Unfortunately, under prior law, they faced a 10 percent ``early withdrawal tax'' when they did so, and they faced restrictions on making repayments to their retirement funds upon returning from active duty. Last year's Pension Protection Act provided relief from this 10 percent penalty tax and permitted unlimited repayments within 2 years after leaving active duty, but only for Guardsmen and Reservists called to active duty before December 31, 2007.

To ensure that this important relief remains available on a permanent basis going forward, I introduced H.R. 867, the Guardsmen and Reservists' Tax Fairness Act on February 7 of this year. This legislation has also attracted a bipartisan group of cosponsors, as well as endorsements from several leading veterans service organizations.

Mr. Speaker, we recently got a great reminder of the time-sensitivity of this particular provision from the area I represent in Western New York. Just days ago, it was announced that 100 members of the 107th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, will be deployed to the Middle East in January as part of the global war on terror. Unless this tax benefit is made permanent, these brave men and women, and countless more just like them across the country, will lose their eligibility simply because the calendar has flipped to 2008 before their date of deployment.

I sincerely hope that our colleagues on the other side of the Capitol will recognize the urgency of this issue and ensure that the provision is sent to the President's desk before adjourning for the year.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California, Mr. Herger, a very senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran).

Mr. Speaker, I certainly agree with the gentleman from New Jersey, our distinguished member from Ways and Means. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation. As both the manager of the bill, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, has outlined and as I have outlined, as we share strong support and we put Democrat and Republican views aside, and represented clearly what is best for America as we deal with our veterans and as we deal with our firefighters. And so both sides of the aisle today join strongly in a clear message of support of this legislation as it comes again before the House and goes to the other body, in hopes that the other body will see fit to support the type of legislation that is coming with such bipartisan support of not only the Ways and Means Committee but through what I believe will be the entire House.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close debate on our side.

Let me first take a moment again to thank Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member McCrery for their ongoing

work on this important bill and for including two specific provisions I described earlier regarding SSI benefits for blind veterans and penalty-free withdrawals by National Guardsmen and Reservists.

Even more importantly, I want to thank my chairman and ranking member for working so hard to cultivate a true spirit of bipartisanship when we deal with issues where we can find common ground.

Today on this legislation, which is very important for both Guardsmen and Reservists and veterans who are serving our country and have served our country, and for our first responders and our firefighters, today is one where we have worked hard to take a number of bills and put them together and make it an opportunity to get results in 2007 that will be the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 884) providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendments to H.R. 3997, with an amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to thank Mr. Rangel, Mr. Neal and Mr. McCrery, and since this was a bipartisan effort, all the hard work that went into this on both sides of the aisle. This legislation comes at a time when most of us are preparing to head home for the Christmas holidays.

Mr. Speaker, I can't tell you how our hearts all go out to those men and women who serve in our military who have sacrificed so much on our behalf. It is getting more and more difficult for many Americans to make ends meet. Why shouldn't we be doing everything we possibly can to make it easier on our military, our veterans, our first responders and their families? We should be making it easier, as this bill does, for those earning combat pay to qualify for an earned income tax credit. We should make it easier for veterans to get housing, disability assistance, and other benefits. This bill makes it easier for the spouses of fallen soldiers to draw from a loved one's retirement savings without penalty. And it makes tax breaks from State and local governments to volunteer first responders Federal income-tax free.

It wasn't lost on Chairman Rangel, Chairman Neal or the entire Ways and Means Committee, as I said previously, that with respect to the events that took place on September 11, it wasn't the military, the FBI, the CIA, the INS that responded at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, or in the fields of Pennsylvania. It was first responders. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is so vitally important that this legislation pass so that we provide an opportunity for those first responders who are so in need of the very rudiments that our government provides them in order to provide the great depth of service covering over 70 percent of the country in terms of the service they provide for this Nation to make sure that what little incremental benefits they get from their municipality, their county, or their State are not taxed by the IRS.

So I am proud to be part of this legislation that we move forward.

And with that I reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. McDermott, from Washington State.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy) who brought with us to the committee compelling testimony from Victoria Johnson.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), a member of the committee.

At this time, I yield 2 minutes to the preeminent authority in this Nation on mental health, and someone who has spoken with great passion and dignity on this floor as a cosponsor, along with Mr. Ramstad, of important legislation, Mr. Kennedy from Rhode Island, for 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the preeminent authority on smart growth in this country, Mr. Blumenauer from Oregon, who cares deeply about veterans concerns in that State and all across the country, for 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, might I inquire how much time we have left.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to refer Members to the ``Technical Explanation of the Tax Technical Correction Act of 2007,'' JCX-119-07, prepared by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, for a description of the legislative intent behind the technical corrections contained in title IV of this bill, H. Res. 884.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I recognize one of the leaders in this body and part of the Firefighter Caucus, the gentleman from New Jersey, my dear friend, Mr. Pascrell, for 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I recognize the gentlelady from San Diego, California, Susan Davis, for 1 minute.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, I recognize the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) for 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentlelady from New York City, Ms. Clarke, for 1\1/2\ minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 3997, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, let me rise and join the sentiment expressed by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds), and I think everybody on our committee, in expressing not only the sheer joy and delight of having a ranking member and the chairman of the committee work as closely as they have throughout the year, whether we agreed or disagreed. It is quite a contrast from previous years. I think that Mr. Rangel deserves an incredible amount of credit for the manner in which he has conducted himself, as does Mr. McCrery, as evident by the concern that has been expressed by both sides as we take up this important legislation today.

Further, let me add, as has been expressed here by many, we should make sure that this bill is taken up in the Senate. They have a responsibility over in that body to make sure that they address the concerns of so many in our military, as eloquently expressed here today by so many Members on and off the committee who care deeply about issues that impact veterans and our volunteer firefighters as well.

I also want to thank the members of the Ways and Means staff, and especially Eileen Shatz, who is serving for her last week on the Ways and Means Committee; Janice Mays; John Buckley; Aruna Kalyanam, who has been here throughout the day; Kase Jubboori; Mildeen Worrell, who have all done great work on behalf of the committee; Chairman Neal, who also has been outstanding with this legislation and the hearings that he conducted in our committee; Melissa Mueller from the subcommittee staff, who was key. And also from my staff, I want to thank Amy O'Donnell. We call her the tax missionary. And also John Renfrew and Jackie Primeau, who have done such an outstanding job.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, we cannot express enough the tremendous debt of gratitude we owe the brave men and women who defend our freedoms every day. It is with great honor that I join my colleagues on the House floor today and

help lead the debate on H.R. 3997, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act. This legislation is more than a simple cleanup of some of the disincentives, distortions and oversights that have disadvantaged our active duty military and veterans in the Tax Code.

This legislation is significant because it sends a clear message that even as many of our best and brightest are currently in harm's way in theaters where they are facing hostile fire, this Congress is prepared to work on a bipartisan basis to consider every option and every opportunity to improve the lives of their families and their predecessors.

The $2.3 billion tax package which was reported out of the House Ways and Means Committee last week will bolster tax and Social Security benefits for military servicemembers, veterans and volunteers. This important measure will allow our active military men and women to benefit from the earned income tax credit by allowing them to pair their nontaxable combat pay with their earned income.

H.R. 3997 will ease the financial burden of losing a loved one by allowing survivors to put military death benefits into Roth IRAs without limitations. Furthermore, this legislation will ensure military Reservists will have the opportunity to make penalty-free withdrawals from their retirement plans, including 401(k) and IRA accounts. If deployed, these men and women will be able to provide the financial footing their families may depend on during their absence.

I am also pleased that the majority, in bringing this bill to the floor today, included in it an amendment I offered and withdrew in committee. I appreciate the bipartisan support displayed on this critical issue. Specifically, my provision will expand Social Security income benefits to our aged, disabled and blind veterans.

Under current law, the Social Security Administration counts annuities paid by State governments to veterans who are blind, disabled or aged as earned income. As a result, veterans in certain States like Pennsylvania, which provides paralyzed vets with an $1,800-per-year annuity, may be denied Federal benefits or receive a lower amount than veterans in States that do not provide such annuities. H.R. 3997 will correct this inequity in the law and ensure that annuities awarded by States to vets with certain disabilities are disregarded when determining SSI benefits.

Madam Speaker, the dedication and bravery made by American soldiers have allowed us to exercise our everyday freedoms. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice, and it is our duty in Congress to make sure that veterans rights and interests are protected and served. As many of us prepare for this upcoming Veterans Day, this legislation reaches our Chamber at the proper time and includes the right incentives to help our men and women in uniform. Overall, this legislation is a bundle of commonsense changes to help those who have contributed to the defense of our country and the protection of our freedoms. I am proud to be a supporter of this initiative, and I retain the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this point, I would like to yield 2 minutes to a leader on our committee, the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller).

Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 2 minutes to another member of our committee and a strong advocate of the cause of veterans, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining on both sides.

Madam Speaker, at this point, it would be my honor to yield 4 minutes to a leader in our committee who made a seminal contribution to the SSI component of this legislation, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds).

(Mr. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), a strong advocate of the cause of veterans.

Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran), a true advocate of the veterans, as well as all of the military facilities in his district.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the other gentleman, does he have just one more speaker?

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In conclusion, I believe the case has been made compellingly that this legislation consists of many components, but they have been developed within the Ways and Means Committee as a benefit for our veterans and our active duty military.

I don't believe there is a great controversy here. What I do believe is there is a lesson. When Republicans and Democrats work together on a bipartisan basis, when they put aside political posturing, when they put aside ideological poses, when they insist on procedural fairness, then I think we can find common ground to move forward on things that are genuinely important.

I want to particularly credit the chairman of our committee, Mr. Rangel, and the gentleman from Massachusetts, the chairman of our Select Revenue Subcommittee, for having moved this legislation forward and having set a very high standard. And I would like to take credit for the fact that there has been substantial Republican participation in the development of this bill.

This bill, I think, is important to move forward now, but not only for what it consists of, but for what it symbolizes, and that is what this Chamber can achieve when both parties work together.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

I want to thank both Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member McCrery, as well as Chairman Neal and Chairman McDermott and Ranking Members English and Weller, for their outstanding leadership in crafting this legislation.

Madam Speaker, we come together today not as Democrats and Republicans but as Americans. We are united in our respect for those who wear the uniform of the United States armed services. We are united in our desire to ensure that Federal programs within the Ways and Means Committee's jurisdiction, from the Tax Code to the SSI program, work effectively for members of the military, veterans, first responders and their families. I strongly urge the passage of this legislation.

I would like to highlight two specific provisions in the bill that have been of particular interest to me during my time in Congress. The first provision, section 202, is modeled on legislation, the Blind Veterans Fairness Act, that I first introduced in the year 2000. My legislation would correct a problem in the Federal SSI rules that affects blind veterans in four States, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, that provide these veterans modest annuities in recognition of the substantial sacrifice they have made in service to our country.

Regrettably, under current Federal law, these State annuities actually reduce any SSI payments for which blind veterans would otherwise be eligible. As we heard from Michelle LaRock of New York's Division of Veterans' Affairs at our Ways and Means Committee hearing 3 weeks ago, this quirk in the Federal SSI rules creates a hardship not only for the affected veterans themselves, but for the States that administer these annuity programs as well.

As in years past, the bill I have introduced in the 110th Congress, H.R. 649, has enjoyed bipartisan support. It has been strongly endorsed by the Blinded Veterans Association. I would also like to publicly thank Chairman Rangel, not just the Chair of our committee but the dean of my State's congressional delegation, for his cosponsorship of prior versions of this bill, and I look forward to working closely with him to see the proposal finally enacted into law.

Let me turn briefly to a separate provision, section 107 of the bill, which will permanently allow penalty-free withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k)'s and other retirement funds for Reservists and National Guardsmen called to active duty. As we all know, when Guardsmen and Reservists are called up, they often face significant reductions in pay compared to their civilian salaries, putting an economic strain on their families.

To lessen this economic hardship, many of them chose to draw down on their retirement funds. Unfortunately, under prior law, they faced a 10 percent early withdrawal tax when they did so, and they faced restrictions on making repayments to their retirement funds upon returning from active duty.

Last year's Pension Protection Act provided relief from this penalty tax and permitted unlimited repayments within 2 years after leaving active duty, but only for Guardsmen or Reservists called to active duty before December 31, 2007.

To ensure that this important relief remains available on a permanent basis going forward, I introduced H.R. 867, the Guardsmen and Reservist Tax Fairness Act, on February 7 of this year. This legislation has also attracted a bipartisan group of cosponsors, as well as endorsements from several leading veteran service organizations. I look forward to seeing these commonsense changes enacted into law over the coming weeks.

I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Blinded Veterans Association,

Washington, DC, February 9, 2007.

Hon. Thomas Reynolds,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Reynolds: On behalf of the Blinded

Veterans Association (BVA), the only congressionally

chartered Veterans Service Organization exclusively dedicated

to serving the needs of our Nation's blinded veterans and

their families we commend you for the introduction of H.R.

649 ``Blind Veterans Fairness Act.'' BVA is grateful to you

for sponsoring this bill for those blind veterans who have

their state annuities counted against the income levels by

Social Security. Cornell University Disability Statistics

research has found that the poverty rates for the disabled

working age population in 2004, ages 21-64, has risen to 3.33

times the rate of poverty for the non-disabled population.

They also found that the poverty rate for those with a

sensory disability in this age group was 24.6% in 2005 as

compared to 9.3% for the non-disability population.

These annuities from the states are clearly meant as a

``gift'' to help prevent these veterans from falling into

these terrible statistics and in appreciation for their

service to our nation. BVA appreciates that you not only

understand this issue, but are willing to take action to

correct the problems blinded veterans have had with these

annuities from some states being provided to them. These

should not be considered additional income by Social

Security, but instead a special disability benefit for their

service to our grateful nation. This penalty should be

removed and the annuities excluded from all income for

purposes of SSI for purposes of pension benefits.

BVA strongly supports H.R. 649, and we appreciate all your

strong efforts in regards to this issue for blinded veterans.

Sincerely,

Thomas Zampieri,

Director, Government Relations.