Published: 12-19-07
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today the House passed with overwhelming support the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007 legislation that will help ensure members of the Armed Forces who are retired or separated due to combat-related injuries receive the full amount of their enlistment bonuses. Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) a cosponsor of H.R. 3793 released the following statement:“We have seen so many soldiers from east Texas bravely going to fight on our behalf. They put their personal safety aside and serve in harm’s way to reduce the chance that civilian citizens will find themselves in harm’s way. Having visited with many of our wounded patriots at Walter Reed Bethesda Naval Hospital as well as overseas I must say that the level of dedication is deeply touching. Their passion and selfless sense of duty never cease to amaze me.”
“These soldiers have invested their lives in the security of our nation. To promise them bonuses for coming to our defense send them into danger then dock their pay if they are wounded is unconscionable! Having heard about this problem in recent months I immediately met with the chairman of Armed Services and others to express my concern. Seeing others equally committed on both sides of the aisle it is reassuring to know that we can actually work together to fix some things that are broken. Our dedicated service members deserve every dollar promised them and this legislation should help guarantee that they receive and keep their enlistment bonuses as promised.”
Although the military says it does not require repayment of enlistment bonuses when service is cut short from combat-injury veteran Tommy Guinn of Rusk County lacks $1000 of his promised $10000 bonus. Guinn was paralyzed after being involved in a helicopter accident in Pakistan which caused him to be separated from the military a year short of his contract. Gohmert hopes this legislation will help Guinn and other veterans receive their deserved bonuses and prevent similar injustices from occurring in the future.
Gohmert encourages soldiers and family members to call the Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline at (800) 984-8523 or email wsfsupport@conus.army.mil if they have concerns regarding payment of their recruitment bonuses. Members and families on overseas assignments may call on the Defense Switch Network (DSN) at 312-328-0002 and stateside DSN at 328-0002. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day by subject-matter experts.
Congressman Gohmert served as a Captain in the U.S. Army and now represents the First District of Texas. He can be reached at www.gohmert.house.gov.
