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Bill Would Finally Reimburse POWs for Service "It's hard to imagine the horror that our POWs went through on behalf of the United States. Every conceivable evil was inflicted on them: painful interrogation, sleep deprivation, torture and performing slave labor for the enemy. We must not forget their sacrifices."
- Congressman Mike Simpson
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As veterans commemorate national Prisoner of War day, Idaho Chairman of the House Veterans Benefits Subcommittee Congressman Mike Simpson authored legislation to increase the compensation of POWs.
H.R. 5235, the Former Prisoners of War Special Compensation Act of 2002 establishes a three-tiered special monthly pension. In the past the Department of Defense has offered some compensation to POWs but it was not levied across the board. Simpson's bill would create a new compensation system delivered through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under Simpson's legislation, POWs detained 30 to 120 days would receive $150 per month, those detained 121 to 540 days would receive $300 per month, and those detained for 540 or more days would receive $450 per month.
"It's hard to imagine the horror that our POW's went through on behalf of the United States. Every conceivable evil was inflicted on them: painful interrogation, sleep deprivation, torture and performing slave labor for the enemy. We must not forget their sacrifices. This special pension, similar to the Medal of Honor pension that VA pays to Medal of Honor recipients, would be in recognition of the hardships faced by the veteran during his or her captivity and incarceration. It would be paid without regard to any other compensation under the laws of the United States," Simpson said.
Currently there are an estimated 42,781 living American ex-POWS. More than 39,700 are World War II survivors, 2,400 from the Korea War, 601 are from the Vietnam War, one from Somalia and three from Kosovo. Approximately 10 former American POWs die each day.
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