PHOTO: Sen. Addabbo this week sent a letter to Gov. Cuomo asking him to sign into law a bill that would expand the opportunity for certain veterans to buy retirement credits. Photo Courtesy of New York State Senate Democrats
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) last week sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo urging him to sign into law a bill that would expand the opportunity for certain veterans to buy retirement credits.
The bill, of which Addabbo is a cosponsor, would allow veterans who go on to work in the public sector to purchase up to three years of pension credits after at least five years of employment in public service. Addabbo said this legislation addresses the ever-increasing problem of military service members losing out on earning retirement credits due to having spent time in the Armed Forces.
“The brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces make unthinkable sacrifices while doing so,” said Addabbo, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs. “Losing their retirement credits because of their time spent in the service should not be one of those sacrifices. This legislation eliminates an oversight in our current state law that unfairly punishes veterans of recent wars and forces them to forego pension credits simply because they courageously chose to enlist in the military. As I stated in my letter to Gov. Cuomo, it is our duty as legislators and as American citizens to ensure we provide as much assistance to veterans as we possibly can. I urge Gov. Cuomo to sign this bill into law and extend these benefits to all veterans.”
Current state law offers a similar buy-back system to veterans of certain military conflicts dating back to World War II, but according to Addabbo it does not afford the same opportunity to veterans returning home from more recent deployments.
The bill passed both houses of the state Legislature last year but was vetoed by Cuomo due to concerns about funding. This year, an amended version passed the Senate and the Assembly, but this time includes monetary assistance from the state and is currently awaiting approval by Cuomo.
By Forum Staff
