The American Retirees Association Concerned Constituent Letter Template

The key to a career in Congress is constituent support. Every member of Congress must affirm this every two years in order to assume or resume membership in the legislative branch of the U.S. Government. For this reason, members of Congress are generally very sensitive to the needs and views of the people they serve.

Your Congressional Representatives are not mind readers, they can't know what you think or want unless you tell them. For USFSPA casualties at this juncture, it means telling those elected to represent your interests on Capitol Hill why they should co-sponsor our Uniformed Services Divorce Equity Act proposal and advocate its consideration by the House and Senate Personnel Subcommittees. You may do this via FAX (preferred), email, letter or telephone.

The FAX message has become the most popular choice of communication with Congress, since 9-11.

THE FOLLOWING ARE SAMPLE LETTERS. Verbatim use is discouraged inasmuch as repeated appearances of the same text will raise questions of sincerity and authenticity: The first paragraph should state the purpose of the letter. Then identify the issue(s) or specific piece of legislation which has prompted your writing. Be courteous and to the point. Use examples or your personal situation to support your position. Keep the letter as short as possible - preferably one page.

The Honorable (full name)
US House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable (full name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator/Congress(wo)man (last name):

The Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act (USFSPA); 10 USC 1408 et seq has been in existence for over 25 years. During that time its application, in state divorce courts, has inflicted at least as many hardships on affected service personnel and their second families as the benefits provided for the former spouses it was intended to protect. Moreover, a law designed for the society of military families of the early 1980's has been overtaken by events:

· The USFSPA appears to have been crafted primarily for the benefit of civilian females married to male commissioned officers. Although about two thirds of the population of former spouses are those of enlisted personnel, only a small percentage of them are enjoying the military medical care and base privileges available to 20/20/20 former spouses in the officers community.

· It is clear that Congress was focused, in 1982, on the protection of the female member of a military marriage. The only pronoun used in the USFSPA is "his" which appears five times. The growth of the percentage of female members of the armed services was neither anticipated nor accommodated.

· The small number of military spouses working outside the home in 1982 has grown to over 60 percent in 2003.

The most egregious feature of the USFSPA is its provision to divide military retired pay as marital property. This permits a former spouse to remarry and still receive a share of her/his former spouse's retired pay. Another glaring inequity is that the military member must serve a minimum of 20 years to be eligible to receive retired pay while his /her spouse qualifies for a share of it immediately upon marriage

The USFSPA does not take into account the vast differences between the characteristics, scope and duration of the "services" to the nation performed by the respective marital partners. The marital partner who goes in harms way receives the same consideration at the retired pay window as does the non-combatant.

By its omission, the USFSPA facilitates the payment of a 'windfall benefit' to a former spouse who benefits from post-divorce promotions where spousal influence was no longer a factor. Another omission is a statute of limitations on the amount of time allowed a former spouse to claim USFSPA benefits after a divorce. This can render the USFSPA a lifetime threat to a second family.

Finally , although it is clear that Congress intended that disability pay not be shared, the USFSPA's protection of it has been circumvented, violated and ignored by state courts and is in conflict with other legislation.

Would you please acquaint yourself with this legislation and (CHOOSE)

Co-sponsor it?
Support it in subcommittee?
Support it on he floor of the House?
Urge the Subcommittee Chairs to consider it?

Still serving proudly, (name)
(mailing address)
(phone number)Sincerely,

The Honorable ________________________
US House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable ________________________

United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Congress(wo)man/Senator _____________________

I am advised that Senate and House Armed Service Committee delegates are currently discussing adoption of the Fiscal Year 20__ National Defense Authorization Act, behind closed doors. I respectfully urge you to formally announce your opposition to Sections___________________.

Still serving proudly, (name)
(mailing address)
(phone number)