February 9, 2007


On behalf of the more than 100,000 members of the Association of the United States Army, I write to thank you for introducing HR 657, the Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act. This legislation, which would forgive any overpayment of retired or retainer pay for the month in which the retiree dies, encompasses a long-standing goal of our Association.

The provisions of this legislation would eliminate the current policy by which the Defense Finance and Accounting System recovers all retired pay for the month in which the retiree dies and later pays a final settlement for the number of days in which the retiree was alive. This policy often creates hardships for survivors at a very stressful time in their lives.

AUSA stands ready to assist, in any way, your effort to enact this legislation into law.

GORDON R. SULLIVAN
General, USA Retired