FRA Slams DOD on Concurrent Receipt Issue In response to top DOD manpower officials publicly accusing disabled military retirees of being greedy "double dippers," FRA released a press statement challenging their campaign to erase concurrent receipt language from the FY 2003 Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act. Officials are quoted in news articles condemning concurrent receipt as receiving two payments for the same service, and referencing misleading information in an attempt to portray military retirees as adequately compensated and greedy. FRA National Executive Secretary Joe Barnes pointed to the average retirement pay of the military's enlisted population as proof there was little if any greed connected with this issue. Two-thirds of the military retirees on Defense's payroll are enlisted, and the majority of enlisted retirees as of 30 September 2000 received less than the Federal government's 1999 poverty level for three persons. Further, in a recent survey conducted on FRA's website, very few enlisted retirees converted their GI insurance because of the high tariff; the majority believe the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) will provide them with a burial allowance which is not accurate; and more retirees than not are enrolled in the military's survival benefit program at minimum levels due to inadequate financial resources. FRA's press release can be viewed in its entirety on the Association's web site at http://www.fra.org/pr/10-08-02-nes-dod.html. Florida Congressman Michael Bilirakis also responded to DOD's public accusations stating, "Since I first began working on this issue, I have heard from thousands of disabled retirees who are negatively impacted by the current offset and are struggling to get by each month. Some of these retirees have been forced to undertake drastic measures, such as selling their homes, in order to meet their monthly obligations. For many of them, their retired pay amounts to less than $1,000 per month. In many of these cases, the amount of the VA offset exceeds the retiree's total retired pay, meaning the individual receives none of the retired pay from the Department of Defense that they have rightfully earned. Even with their VA disability compensation, most of these individuals had total monthly incomes of $1,000 or less, and I seriously doubt that any of these retirees would consider themselves `doing well financially.'" Congressman Bilirakis' letter can also be viewed on FRA's web site at http://www.fra.org/leg-center-2/107th-congress/107th-letters/bili rakis-abell-ltr.html. FRA urges its Shipmates to continue sending correspondence to the White House, by visiting the "Action Center" on the Association's web site at www.fra.org. To send a prepared message, type in your zip code under the "Elected Officials" heading and then click "President: Concurrent Receipt VETO Threat."