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Vets group unhappy with 2 new pension bills

A House-passed bill promising $1,000 monthly pensions to World War II veterans of the Merchant Marine is drawing fire from a major veterans’ group.

The 1.3 million-member Disabled American Veterans said Thursday that the Merchant Marine pension bill, HR 23, is too generous considering the level of benefits for military veterans. The House of Representatives approved the bill Monday.

The $1,000 pension for Merchant Mariners or their surviving spouses is more than the monthly compensation for a combat-wounded veteran with a disability rated at 60 percent. That would be the amount, for example, paid to someone with an above-the-knee amputation, DAV officials said.

“While the DAV acknowledges the bravery, sacrifice and contributions of those Merchant Mariners, we oppose offsetting the costs associated with the measure against other VA programs,” said David Gorman, executive director of DAV’s Washington headquarters.

Fairness is a major issue for DAV, which notes the only other veterans currently receiving a pension simply for having served are those who have received the Medal of Honor — $1,104 in a monthly pension, with an increase scheduled to take effect Dec. 1.

Paying pensions for service also is an issue for the DAV in another House bill that would create a new benefit for Filipinos who helped the U.S. during World War II, said the DAV’s Adrian Atizado. DAV is not opposing the Filipino veteran bill because the organization had not taken a formal stand on it, but the group is “concerned,” Atizado said.

Cost is a major issue. The bill, called the Belated Thank You to Merchant Marines of World War II Act, would cost about $241 billion for the first year and $1.4 billion over 10 years, according to Veterans Affairs’ Department estimates.

“The DAV is concerned about the impact the legislation would have on other veterans programs that would be cut to pay for those pension benefits,” the group said in a statement.

DAV’s concerns put them at odds with Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman who pushed the bill through the House.

Filner said the House “took the opportunity to correct a grave injustice heaped upon the gallant men of the Merchant Marine of World War II.”

The bill tries to make up for more than 60 years of mistreatment, he said. World War II veterans of the Merchant Marine, including the Army and Navy transport services, were granted veterans status in 1988, but Filner said that is not enough.

“The heroic and brave service of these veterans has gone unheralded by this country for too long. We owe these heroes a thank you and today, we are one step closer to righting this wrong once and for all,” he said. “These veterans kept their promises to serve our country, and it is not too late to keep our promises to those that have fought for our country.”