Rahall secures money for disabled veterans

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Disabled and retired military veterans would collect full disability benefits as well as retirement pay for at least the next year, under legislation the House of Representatives passed Wednesday.     

Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., says he played a role in getting funding for the new legislation, in his role as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. Not everyone thinks that’s a good thing.

The Disability Military Retiree Relief Act changes the current law, under which a veteran’s retirement pay is cut by the amount of disability benefits the veteran receives.

The new legislation is provoking controversy and some opposition.

The costs will be paid with $50 million in federal funds from the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program, which operates under the jurisdiction of Rahall’s committee.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created a research fund, under that program, to finance and conduct research for petroleum exploration and production in the Outer Continental Shelf. Fees for that fund come from companies paying for leases for oil and gas from the Outer Continental Shelf.

Some opponents of the new legislation oppose the use of those funds to pay for veterans benefits, Rahall noted, arguing it is costly for oil and gas interests.

But during the first three months of this year, between January and March, multinational oil corporations spent $44.5 million on efforts to lobby Congress and federal agencies, Rahall said.