Ruppersberger Blasts Pentagon Move to Cut Pay For Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

Washington, DC - Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger is blasting the Pentagon for trying to cut pay for 148,000 US troops serving in Iraq and 9,000 serving in Afghanistan. The Pentagon wants to cut pay for the troops by $225 a month or $2,700 a year.

"Many military families rely on this pay to help make ends meet when their loved ones are away serving our country and fighting for our freedom. If we can afford the wrong tax cut at the wrong time, surely we can afford to pay our men and women risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan the money they deserve," said Congressman Ruppersberger.

Our troops face daily guerilla attacks. They face unbearable temperatures and they have to deal with missing their family and loved ones, but still the Pentagon wants to cut the soldiers' "imminent danger pay" as well as their "family separation allowances."

Congressman Ruppersberger wrote a letter today to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld asking him to reconsider his decision.

"This sends the wrong message to our soldiers and their families. It says to them the Pentagon does not care about their well being. It suggests that their efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan are no longer dangerous. We cannot let our soldiers and their families feel like we do not understand and appreciate what they are going through," wrote Congressman Ruppersberger in the letter.

"I hope you will not proceed with the Pentagon's combat pay reduction recommendation and instead submit a request to Congress for additional funding so that we can honor our soldier abroad and their families at home. These men and women make a huge sacrifice and we need to make sure that they receive all the resources and compensation they need to ensure that their families are well supported" wrote Congressman Ruppersberger.

This affects the men and women serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines and their National Guard units serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.