Dahlstrom Comments On Decision To Deny ATG Pensions

(Eagle River) - Today after hearing President Obama's Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) regarding the retirement benefits for the 26 surviving Alaska Territorial Guard members, Representative Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Eagle River, was deeply disappointed and concerned with this decision.

The Federal Government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars bailing out various agencies and organizations across this country. I find it extremely appalling the President and his Administration won't continue the payments for these Territorial Guard members.

From 1947 until 2000 America did not recognize the sacrifices of the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) member's service to America. In 2001, the Defense Appropriations Act attempted to correct this injustice. It required the Secretary of Defense to issue certificates of discharge to members of the Alaska Territorial Guard and it required the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make veterans benefits available to these individuals. That policy was reversed effective February 1, 2009, leading to a reduction in retirement benefits to the 26 Alaska Territorial Guard members.

In April of this year, the Alaska State Legislature passed Senate Bill 89, continuing the retirement payments to the 26 surviving Alaska Territorial Guard members who so bravely defended our state and country during World War II. Alaskans were hopeful that the new Administration would make the correction in the law and continue payments to these brave Alaska Native elders. Since passing this legislation two of the 26 individuals have passed away, leaving 24 ATG members who would receive these benefits.

I applaud the efforts of Senators Murkowski and Begich for following through and gaining support to re-authorize it in the current defense spending bill.

"The Federal Government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars bailing out various agencies and organizations across this country. I find it extremely appalling the President and his Administration won't continue the payments for these Territorial Guard members" said Dahlstrom, The House's Joint Armed Services Committee Co-Chair. "We in the Legislature made it a priority to cover the reduced benefit until the federal government came to their senses by doing the right thing. SB 89 was a bridge, and I applaud the efforts of Senators Murkowski and Begich for following through and gaining support to re-authorize it in the current defense spending bill. The Obama Administration's position lacks compassion for those elders who voluntarily joined the ATG out of their love for Alaska and duty to protect our great state at a time when the federal government didn't offer those protections to our territory. The decision is a slap in the face to those survivors, and I hope Alaskans share my distaste for the Administration's policy choice. We should be honoring those who served, not pinching our pennies in terms of 24 modest pension benefits."