Last week Senate leaders struck a deal to finally bring the fiscal 2006 defense
authorization bill to the floor. Under the agreement, each of the two parties could attach 12 amendments that are germane to the bill and are within the purview of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Each amendment could be debated for up to one hour. At press time, the status of proposed benefits, allowances and medical improvements for the troops was unknown as was the state of other vital issues such as: Guard and Reserve retirement pay before age 60; concurrent receipt for retirees rated 100 percent unemployable but not 100 percent disabled; an end to the deduction of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation payments from Survivor Benefit Plan annuities; and mandatory funding for VA health care.
