In Today's News

matryoshka

(Trump associates' links with Russia: what we know so far)

News From Congress.

The House of Representatives yesterday passed the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007.

The text of the bill can be found here. It's pretty safe to assume the bill's support in the House is bipartisan as it passed unanimously (405-0).

The similar Senate bill (S.2400) was introduced a few days ago by Republican Jeff Sessions. On Friday, it passed by unanimous consent.

There still is, however, work to be done to reconcile the two bills. From the Army Times:

On Friday, the Senate passed its bill, the Wounded Warrior Bonus Equity Act, which promises retroactive payments to anyone who did not get his full bonus since Sept. 12, 2001, because a combat-related disability cut short his service. The Senate bill, S 2400, promises full payment of any unpaid portions of bonuses and special pays within 90 days of leaving active duty.

The House of Representatives was prepared Tuesday to pass a slightly different bill, one that does not allow any retroactive payments. The House bill allows full bonus payments in the future to anyone with a disability unable to continue military service as long as his injury was not his own fault. Payments are mandatory for combat-related disabilities and are allowed at the discretion of each service in other cases when a service commitment tied to a bonus is not met. Additionally, the bill, HR 3793, says that in cases where a service member is killed in action, the government is required to pay the full amount of unpaid bonuses or special pays to survivors or the deceased service member’s estate.

They're trying to get one bill passed through both houses:

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., is chief sponsor of the Senate bill, and Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., is chief sponsor of the House bill. Press aides to both lawmakers said there are efforts underway to get a compromise bill passed before Congress goes home at the end of the week, but time is short. Congressional leaders are hoping to wrap up key bills by Wednesday night or early Thursday, and intend for Congress to take a break until mid-January.

I'll keep you posted.