WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) held a virtual press conference on the introduction of her new bill, the Veteran Benefits Enhancement Act.
This bill seeks to amend the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) to clarify the treatment of military retirement pay in relation to unemployment and sickness benefits.
“The Veteran Benefits Enhancement Actaims to ensure that veterans can access the support they need without unnecessary barriers,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01). “It is our duty to ensure they receive the benefits they deserve. By clarifying how military retirement pay is treated under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, we are taking a significant stride toward supporting our veterans as they transition back into civilian life.”
“Roughly one in six railroad employees are veterans,” said Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD). “We applaud Rep. Stansbury’s office for introducing the Veteran Benefits Enhancement Act to resolve a legal technicality that reduces the rail worker unemployment benefits available to these veterans. As America’s largest transportation labor federation, we know that these benefits can be a lifeline to rail workers. It is vital that all rail workers are able to receive the full value of the benefits they have earned.”
Veterans face numerous obstacles when navigating the complex landscape of retirement benefits. The Veteran Benefits Enhancement Act responds to ongoing concerns and aims to regulate how veteran military retirement pay is treated under current unemployment insurance regulations.
“Every day that our veterans wait for their rightful benefits is a day too long,” Rep. Stansbury said. “It is crucial that we recognize and address these systemic issues within our benefits system. Together, we can make meaningful changes that will positively impact veterans and their families.”