House throws support behind stop-loss pay

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House throws support behind stop-loss pay
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jun 12, 2008 16:19:40 EDT

In what is at least a symbolic sign of support for giving extra cash to people whose military service is involuntarily extended by stop-loss orders, 21 members of the House of Representatives are cosponsoring a bill that would provide a $1,500 monthly special pay for each month of extra service.

The bill, HR 6205, is an exact duplicate of the Stop Loss Compensation Act of 2008 that was introduced May 22 in the Senate.

The bills hold the promise of $1,500 for each month of extended service for anyone whose retirement or separation was delayed by stop-loss orders since Oct. 1, 2001.

Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, is the chief sponsor of the House bill. In May, Sutton sponsored a nonbinding resolution that asked the Army to quit using stop-loss.

After Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., introduced bill that would pay $1,500 a month for those held by stop loss, she volunteered to be the chief sponsor in the House and collected 20 co-sponsors.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/military_stoploss_payments_061208w/