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Foster Votes To Repeal Cuts To Veterans’ Pensions

February 12, 2014

Washington, DC -- Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) kept the promise he made to veterans at a town hall in December to reverse cuts to veterans' pensions by voting for S.25, a suspension bill to repeal the reduction in the cost of living adjustments (COLA) for retired members of the armed services.

"I voted for the Bipartisan Budget Act because I believed it was critical to avoiding another shutdown, and because it begins to restore the harmful funding cuts from sequestration," said Foster. "However, Congress should not be forced to choose between shutting down government and cutting benefits owed to veterans, and I voted today to ensure our veterans get the full pensions they have earned."

The cuts were included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, a framework for funding the government for two years. Spending for the current fiscal year is set at $1.012 trillion -- $520.5 billion for defense discretionary spending and $491.8 billion for non-defense discretionary spending.

In December, Foster cosponsored the Military Retirement Restoration Act to repeal the COLA cuts for veterans.