WASHINGTON – Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today announced that she has sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates enquiring about reports of wounded service members being asked to return enlistment bonuses after combat injuries prevented them from completing full tours of duty.

“These young men and women served and sacrificed for their country, and as a nation we have a duty to ensure that they are compensated for their service,” writes Capito. “We’ve asked our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines to serve in harms way – and they do so honorably – but we cannot then revoke compensation after they suffer a serious injury while in the line of duty.”

Rep. Capito is also a co-sponsor of legislation that would ensure that veterans receive their bonus pay in its entirety.  The Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007 would require the Department of Defense to continue payment of bonuses to service members who are forced to separate from the military due to a service-related disability. 

“There is broad bipartisan support for this legislation,” said Capito, noting that there are more than 200 co-sponsors of this legislation.  “It is important that our veterans receive fair compensation for their service to our country.”   

Under the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act, any service member owed a bonus but forced out of service due to a combat-related injury would be entitled to the lump sum of their bonus within 30 days of their separation from military service. 

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