Rep. Stansbury Honors Veterans Day with New Legislation Supporting Veterans’ Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) today introduced H.R. 5982, the Veteran Benefits Enhancement Act, legislation to ensure that veterans who pursue careers in the rail industry receive the full unemployment and sickness benefits they have earned.

The bill amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) to clarify how military retirement pay is treated when calculating unemployment and sickness benefits. Currently, a technical inconsistency in the law can reduce benefit eligibility for veterans who enter railroad service after military retirement.

Read the bill here.

"The Veteran Benefits Enhancement Act aims to ensure that veterans can access the support they need without unnecessary barriers," said Rep. Stansbury. "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."

The bill is endorsed by the Transport Workers Union of America, SMART Transportation Division, IBEW International, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen New Mexico State Legislative Board.

"This bill fixes a loophole in railroad retirement pay where veterans working on railroads could see their unemployment benefits reduced," said TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz. "No veteran should be forced to get less in unemployment benefits because they are receiving their justly earned military retirement pay. The TWU strongly supports this bill."

"No one who served their country should be penalized for it," said IBEW International President Kenneth W. Cooper. "We commend Representative Stansbury for introducing this common-sense bill to ensure the veterans working on our nation's railroads receive every benefit they've earned."

"Military service is not something we should ever take for granted, nor should it be held against anyone," said SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson. "Our brothers and sisters who wore the uniform and now keep our economy moving deserve the full benefits they have earned both as veterans and as railroaders. The DD-214 they carry is a badge of honor, not a target for the railroads or the federal government. SMART-TD is proud to stand with Representative Stansbury in this fight to right that wrong."

"We thank Congresswoman Stansbury for her continued leadership in improving the lives of railroad workers," said BLET and Teamsters Rail Conference President Mark Wallace. Many of BLET's members are military veterans and we are immensely proud of their service to their Country. Unfortunately, current federal law excludes railroad workers who get military retirement pay from receiving rail unemployment or sickness benefits that they have otherwise earned that other railroaders receive. This exclusion makes no logical sense and is a disservice to those railroaders who served their Country. We are proud to support Congresswoman Stansbury's Veteran Benefits Enhancement Act which would correct this injustice and honor our members who are veterans on this Veteran's Day."

Veterans face numerous obstacles when navigating the complex landscape of retirement benefits. The Veteran Benefits Enhancement Act responds to ongoing concerns and aims to clarify how 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."

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