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H.R. 2495, The Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act (45 comments ↓)
H.R. 2495 would amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.
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Visitor Comments
Jerry M.
I think this is another major milestone which should pass easily and not be exploited. It's for the benifit of our disabled Vets & dependants. If only the USFSPA could be fixed!
Fawaz
Awesome. Disabled Veterans deserve this. Military doesn't have anything to loose. BX/PX and Commissaries will get more revenues out of all this.
Lewis B
Everyone wins! This is great for those disabled Veterans who did not spend 20 years on
active duty and are
dagmar grambs
THEY DESERVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe Peace
Yes I belive it would help all disabled veterans .
Why would anyone stand in the bill way?
Michael
I am so happy to hear this. I live by a post. It's not even that I would use the PX and comisary alot it just makes me feel good being recognized for my service.
Koaheart
I think this is the 3rd time this has been introduced. H.R. 2495
H.R. 1477
H.R. 4121
Why does congress dead-head items for the military benifits? I think the Military should be able to go on strike like union workers. Maybe they would finally get noticed!
David
Yes. This would be a great morale booster for disabled vetes. Many disabled vets were forced out of the service due to their disabilities, and they should at least be able to enjoy those base privileges they had before as active duty members. And lets not forget that the MWR would have a great increase in revenue which would turn around and help the war fighter and their families.
DALE
I THINK THIS IS ONE PIECE OF FINE LEGISLATION. I WILL REMEMBER AT ELECTION TIME THOSE WHO VOTE AGAINST IT.
Archie
I think all PX stores should be open to all Americans. Mostly to those who suffered by not going into the military. They have been suffering ignorance all their lives.
Bill
As a disabled veteran, I think that this is a good step for congress to undertank. Most of us who have a service-connected disability would have enjoyed putting in our 20+ because we enjoyed our service career. Bottom line it isn't our fault that our military careers were cut short. This is awesome and it is about time someone picked up the guideon on this one.
Lee
Archie, PX means Post Exchange, they are not offered to "ALL AMERICANS", simply due to the fact you have to be Military or connected via family member or employee (with restrictions) to gain access. What would be the point offering this "PRIVILEGE" to the entire public?
Frydrk
I think all disabled Veterans should have commissary and PX privileges, having given what they have for this country I fell it is the least the government could do to show it's appreciation.
Sean
I think that disabled veterans should be able to shop on base( commissary and PX)for the sacrifices that we endured on active duty. I served 18 years on active duty and was rated 80% for service-connected disability.
Norm
You legislators that voted against this in the past, present, and future, enjoy your same high salaries and benefits at retirement knowing you did not answer this small request from veterans who are not as fortunate as you not to need a commissary.
H Robles
I believe that disabled veterans should be included in these privileges, as we consider ourselves part of the military family. I believe further that disabled veterans should be allowed to use a courtesy military rank.
geo Robertson, Jr;
This is not about getting somthing new at all, But getting somthing BACK The Bastard's in congress has been chopping VETERNS Right's For years; STAND UP VET'S
Dan
Archie,
If you didn't serve, you don't deserve to step foot on a military base! Your opinion is way out in left field, and it offends me.
UPSET VET
6/28/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel Where it will rot before it ever goes anywhere! Why does anyone even bother, only to dead end the bill. It's been introduced 3 times. How many times has a Vet stuck his/her neck out for these people? Get it off the bottom of the pile and push it where it needs to go!
Linwood
I think (like several others have posted) that disabled vets should be entitled to these services as we did not choose to get hurt and put out. I was in for a little over 6 myself before being MEB'd out...my plan was 25 min. When I became injured I was ostracized buy my peers....craped on by the MEB (TDRL then pushed out with 20%) and it continues with the government treating use as second class....I agree STAND UP VETS fight for the rights we deserve...the rights that where yanked from under out feet...make the goverment stand accountable for the promises we where handed when we raised our hands. This is a great idea and should have been accomplished ages ago! WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ACT AS A GATEWAY TO OTHER RIGHTS WE HAVE BEEN DENIED.
Rico
I think it is time that Congress really took a hard look at taking care of our veterans especially those with service-connected disabilities; whether it is a rating of 10% or 100%.
Right now in order to take advantage of the Exchange or the Commissary as a veteran, you have to be retired or 100% disabled. I think any body that served our country and were hurt, no matter what percentage of the service connected disability, should be eligible to use it.
My service connected disability forced me to leave a career I intended to stick with to retirement. I can't even qualify for reserve duty.
In the very least I think we should support some legislation to allow veterans with any degree of service-connected disability to be allowed to use the facilities allowed to them before their disability forced them to leave.
Susan
I support this bill to help out our well-deserving vets. Shame our government can find ways to provide for illegal immigrants and foreign countries, but can't manage to slice a piece of the pie to our own vets who have fought for this government and the Americans who voted for them.
Bob
Semper Fi!! This would be a huge boost for service members with disabilities. I believe disabled vets should be treated as retired vets when it comes to base activities. Seems like a non-issue and they should just pass the bill and move on.
Javance
It is a good idea. We need the help and they need the money. It's time the congress did something for the people instead of just themselves.
Jerry
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2495 Still sitting in someone in-box and will be forgotten as usual. Isn't Senator Clinton a part of the subcommittee for Military Personnel?
david
we fought for our country now we are disabled and we cant even use the commissary privelages think about IT
DAVID
WE CAN BECOME DISABLED FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY BUT WE CANT USE COMMISSARY PRIVELAGES BECAUSE WE ARE HAS BEENS
ALLEN
WE DISABLED VETS 100%UNEMPLOYABLE SHOULD RECEIVE THE SAME PRIVELAGES AS ANY ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIER AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ARRANGED 10 YEARS AGO INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A BUNCH OF PEOPLE VOTING ON IT THAT HAVE EITHER NEVER BEEN IN THE MILITARY OR HAVE NEVER SEEN COMBAT WE DESERVE AND DEMAND WHAT SHOULD NOT EVEN HAVE TO BE ASKED FOR.
DAL
I AM ASKING ALL DISABLED VETS TO WRITE TO YOUR GOVERNORS AND CONGRESSMEN AND EVEN THE PRESIDENT LETS TAKE A STAND THIS IS SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR JUST OUR BASIC RIGHTS TO PRIVELEGES WE DESERVE LETS QUIT JUST STANDING BY AND HOPING FOR A CHANGE LETS ALL BAND TOGETHER AND LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF US LETS KEEP ASKING UNTIL WE GET WHAT WE DESERVE.
DAV
PASS THIS BILL NOW PLEASE NOT 2YEARS FROM NOW
338.6 BILLION A YR FOR ILLEGALS
WHATS A FEW MILLION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUGHT IN WAR AND WORE THE UNIFORM. THIS ILLEGAL ALIEN MESS IS ASS BACKWARDS!!! WHAT IS AN ILLEGAL ALIEN? A MOVING TARGET!
8 Years in a Row
Congress has no problem voting itself a pay raise for eight years in a row. Perhaps they should consider this.
VETSETTER
WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND CONGRESSPERSONS!
This bill shows merit and appears to have wide bipartisan support. Unfortunately, DOD and some Veteran's organizations are lobbying against this bill's passage. It has come up for the past 10 years and continues to languish in subcommittee. Until we can get this passed through, it will not become a law.
Joan
I will be praying for this to pass. Anyone who has served in the military with any percentage of disability SHOULD be allowed to use the commissary/px. We would be putting money into their pockets.
Joseph F. Kelly
Anyone with a service rated disability should have PX, Commissary privileges .With the cost of everything today and the price of fuel it would greatly help.Many Veterans would have to drive a considerable distance anyway .
everything today
SFC Pugh
Disabled military should be given this service for their sacrifice to this great country. The volunteer spirit, they answered the call in their hearts to serve a higher need of this nation.
Fred
Not to much to ask for from my perspective. We would still be giving back to MWR by shopping on base. May I say thank you to those in congress who have supported this bill.
Jerry
This would provide even more ammunition to use against Congress when they propose cutting commissary benefits. The extra money coming into MWR would also be most welcome.
All this for a group that earned the right through personal sacrifice to this great country. What's wrong with Congress. This is a no-brainer.
VETSETTER
I find it hard to see why the voting graphic at the top of this page has so many votes against it. Every comment on this board is in support of the resolution. Can someone please provide a good reason why NOT to pass this?! The weak arguments:
It’d erode the benefit from retirees. Nonsense! They would have the same benefit. Those who gave their health should be given the same.
It’d negatively impact security on base. These veterans have already undergone screening & served their country honorably. They weren't a security risk while on active duty.
It’d overload the infrastructure of the commissary and PX. Again; invalid! If you look at the number of retirees & those who use this benefit, it is a small percentage. The price advantage is too small over stores such as Wal-Mart to benefit anyone but those who TRULY need it.
Call the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Military Personnel Staff line at (202) 225-7560 to let them know you'd like this to move forward!
JoeCpl
I am a 70% disabled Vet from the
Vietnam War. I fought and bled for
my country; and I am refused
Military Base priviledges....I find
this hard to comprehend.
silver Star/purple heart Hue City
Mark
Maybe now we'll see what Mr. Obama really wants to get accomplished. Obviously, he has more on his plate, but this would go a long way to getting all vets behind him. This is SO OVERDUE and DESERVED
VETSETTER
FY09 Natoinal Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 5658) report states that the SecDef must supply a report of consideration for Disabled Veterans Access to Commissaries and Exchanges by the end of March, 2009. Looks like this won't even be considered until next congress.
Robert
I can't believe this was the least
congress and the DOD could do,yet
they would bicker over it.
I'm surprised they even had to give it thought.
It sure seems logical to me.
Give the Vets something back for
their sacrifices.It doesn't really
even incur a cost.
Wow! the polititians could do something nice,that doesn't cost anything.
A real no-brainer!!!
Theda
I can't understand why it should take so long, if was not for the miltary we would not have so many disabled veteran. I feel that disabled veterans rated a certain percentage should have access to the PX and Commissary. (Whats to think about)
Archie
Dan ---- Honestly!!!! I am 100% Permanant and Total all combat wounds since wounded on Vietnams DMZ. PX and commissary should be only for those wounded in combat and not for questionable disbilities. What has this country became a nation of wannabes? I think so!