VALOR - From the Website in order of presentation
https://www.valorindivorce.com/
| Veterans Against Lifetime Oppressive Remuneration
There is a Federal law that few are aware of, until it affects them. The USFSPA is not in the public domain as it is a Federal law that pertains only to the seven uniformed services; retired members of the uniformed services of the United States. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and the NOAA only are subject to this very unfair federal law that allows state courts to divide their retainer pay after a divorce, often with terms that are often more severe than the terms of any normal divorce in our society.
Military members have a unique retirement that requires them to be available for military recall their entire lives. They are subject to the UCMJ, Uniformed Code of Military Justice for life. Their spouses have no such obligation! But upon divorce, even a ‘No Fault’ divorce, spouses can still receive up to 50% from the retainer pay of the uniformed service retiree for life, and which will continue even after the former spouses remarries, and some multiple times.
There are hundreds of thousands of retirees today, both male and female, who are adversely affected by this unfair law every day. Many are physically disabled as a result of their service to our country. Is this not a prime example of discrimination?!
What is the USFSPA?
USFSPA is the abbreviated name for the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act 10 U.S.C. sect 1408. The Act was included as a 'rider' to the 1983 Defense Appropriations Bill and was passed to overrule and effectively invalidate the United States Supreme Court's ruling in McCARTY v. McCARTY, 453 U.S. 210 (1981) that held that military retainer pay was the sole property of the retiree, and was not community property nor subject to division in divorce proceedings.
The USFSPA creates a legal fiction in calling the retainer pay “property” when in fact it is not! In fact, all Military Retainer Pay, including amounts awarded to a former spouse, are taxed by the IRS as income. Additionally, retirees are required to meet a number of conditions to continue to receive the pay; they are subject to recall to active duty and subject to court-martial. Spouses have no such conditions!
Although constitutional challenges to the USFSPA have not been successful, the Supreme Court has upheld the language of the statute on two occasions when state courts have tried to work around the statutory protections.
Most states have or are modifying their divorce protocols, specifically to no longer require lifetime payments to a former spouse. There are only seven states currently that have permanent alimony; most divorce settlement agreements include terms for review and modification as circumstances change or with some other significant event. USFSPA determinations do not!
End Discrimination
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America clearly states, that all laws must be dealt with in a uniform manner and that rulings based on our laws, must be uniform and consistent. However, it is very clear, the State Courts of our great nation have not been treating the USFSPA in a uniform or consistent manner. They are ignoring that this law "allows," but does not mandate, the division of retainer pay. There is today, total disparity across the board. Additionally, evidence confirms that members of the American Bar Association blatantly constitute the greatest opposition to any attempt of repeal or any legitimate reform of this 'Federal divorce law' in ways the service member has no means available to counteract.
The USFSPA is an unjust law that is perpetuated by biased lawyers
The Plan to Achieve Equality
Our objective is to bring equality into the personal issue of divorce and for members of the seven uniformed services not to unnecessarily suffer greater than the non-veterans. State alimony laws are fully able to compensate the former spouse appropriately when left to the discretion of an unbiased judge in each individual’s set of circumstances.
VALOR in Divorce wants to bring relief from an unjust and biased law by either aggressively amending the USFSPA to achieve fairness, or by rescinding it altogether. A realistic appraisal of previous efforts and the current situation leads one to conclude that outright repeal of the USFSPA remains politically unfeasable, but efforts to limit the effect of this law can succeed! It is a law that has become outdated in today’s society and is no longer relevant nor warranted. The arguments of the former spouses for support have been fully addressed by the military, and society in general, thereby eliminating any need for a lifetime of support by the retired member.
Therefore, VALOR in Divorce is starting this increased focus on the discrimination and unfairness of the USFSPA to climax in early 2021 as a new Congress takes the helm, with the goal that legislation to resolve the problem will be introduced and implemented. To single out the military veteran with this Federal divorce law gives them a distinctly different status than other members of society. United States Uniformed Service members are the only ones singled out as a class to whom a special, discriminatory set of divorce provisions are applied. This is a social as well as a legal disgrace.
State divorce laws are more than adequate to protect former spouses of military members – NO special federal law is needed.
Failing an outright repeal, we believe that the USFSPA should be modified to:
Ensure that divisions of military retainer pay shall not exceed amounts or the length of time that could be awarded by state divorce laws – in both amounts and other limitations, such as cohabitation or remarriage.
Exempt spousal share of the retainer pay from increasing with inflation with yearly COLA.
Require the services to inform and educate all uniformed service members about the USFSPA before their enlistment or commission and annually thereafter.
Allow the service person to seek review of their division of retainer pay on a regular basis, and when circumstances have changed for either party.
In no way does VALOR in Divorce advocate the exemption of retainer pay from child support. All Military pay is intended to support retirees, to include child support obligations.
VALOR in Divorce has no objection to federal law that provides access to health care, shopping facilities, and recreation facilities in recognition of their contributions to the uniformed services.
Talking Points
USFSPA only affects members of the seven uniformed services — USA, USN, USMC, USAF, USCG, PHS and the NOAA – no other Federal agencies have such a harsh law. Most State agencies exempt their retirees from similar provisions.
USFSPA is designed to give flexibility to state courts to assure equity in a divorce but many state courts still incorrectly apply the Law as though mandated.
Military retainer pay requires continued action on the part of the retiree, but none on the former spouse. This literally makes retirees financially “indentured.”
USFSPA assumes that all former spouses have been hurt in a divorce, even with no evidence of any actual harm. This is contrary to normal legal principles.
Settlements made under USFSPA often exceed that of alimony for civilian spouses, making military retirees indentured for life. Now, only seven states allow lifetime alimony for a former spouse!
The USFSPA is often a double whammy — first the retainer pay is considered property, then divided; the divided share is then used to calculate child support; in effect the military retirement is divided twice!
Supporting Organizations
National Military & Veterans Alliance
www.nmva.us | Facebook: National Military & Veterans Alliance
The National Military and Veterans Alliance (NMVA) was founded in 1996 as an open umbrella group of military associations and veterans’ organizations to advance common goals and secure common interests. NMVA offers their association members a forum to present and discuss its membership’s interests and to ensure Alliance understanding and support.
American Retirees Association
The American Retirees Association (ARA) is a non-profit organization, chartered specifically to deal with the impact of the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act (USFSPA) (10 U.S.C. 1408 et seq.) on only the seven uniformed service personnel.
The Air Force Sergeant's Association
A federally chartered non-profit organization representing the professional and personal interests of active duty, retired and veteran Total Air Force and their families.
References
The following is an excerpt from a statement made by (now deceased) SGT MAJ C.A. MCKINNEY, USMC Retired before the Committee on Veterans Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives on the UNIFORMED SERVICES FORMER SPOUSE PROTECTION ACT (USFSPA) on 5 August, 1998.
"To understand the mechanics that moved Congress to enact the USFSPA, one must be knowledgeable of the events leading to its finale. The following statement was prepared by this witness who played a major role in trying to delay the momentum driving the force toward the enactment of what the military and veterans' groups believed to be a one-sided proposal. Much of this statement is supported by documents retained on file by this witness."
MILITARY RETAINER PAY
For almost a century, prior to the enactment of USFSPA, U.S. Courts agreed that military retired pay is neither an annuity, a pension, nor a payment for fully retiring from the Armed Forces of the United States. As far back as 1881, the U.S. Supreme Court held in U.S. v. Tyler (105 U.S. 244) that officers retired from active service were still "in the military service of the government." The Court took note that those on the retired list "were in all respects still performing 'service'."
"It is impossible to hold that men who are by statute declared to be a part of the army, who may wear its uniform, whose names shall be borne upon its register, who may be assigned by their superior officers to specified duties by detail as other officers are, who are subject to the rules and articles of war, and may be tried, not by a jury, as other citizens are, but by a military court-martial, for any breach of those rules, and who may finally be dismissed on such trial from the service in disgrace, are still not in military service."
Other Courts upheld the earlier decision. In Lemly v. United States (109 Ct.Cl. 760,763 (1948)) the Court stated: "Retirement pay ... is a continuation of active duty." Nearly 20 years later on March 16, 1976, the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, supported the judgment that military retired pay is "reduced pay for reduced but continuing service." In October 1978 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit arrived at the same result as in the Lemly case: "Retirement pay ... is a continuation of active duty."
Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), through the Federal Government's issue of W-2P Forms, identified military retired pay as separate from 'pensions and annuities.' And the Subchapter on Forfeiture of Annuities and Retired Pay, USC 5, 8311, defined military retired pay separately from federal employees' annuities. Even the Encyclopedia Britannica of the time noted that military retired pay was different from 'public employee pensions,' "... they (military retired pay measures) continued a certain portion of pay."
THE HISTORY
For some years prior to 1977, a few States, then numbering no more than 8, had developed community property laws. Some treated military retired pay as divisible upon granting divorces involving military personnel. In 1977, two noncommunity property States, Michigan and New Jersey, adopted the concept. Colorado, however, had ruled in 1975 that military retired pay was not subject to a division because it was not the result of a 'contributory plan.'
The Montana Supreme Court also took the position that military retired pay, like a private pension, could be considered vested property and was divisible under State law. Oregon's Court of Appeals ruled that the retired pay of a Foreign Service Officer could be assigned to his former spouse while he was still employed. Payments would begin after retirement.
California went further. In Luciana v. Luciana its Court of Appeals decided that the former spouse did not have to wait until the service member retired to begin receipt of the latter's military retired pay. However, the court noted that if she began payments at that time it would "constitute an irrevocable election to give up possibly higher future payments that might accrue because of longevity increases, more years of service and military pay raises." (Randall Shoemaker, The Retired Scene, Navy Times, Oct. 20, 1980.)
In another California case, Tom Philpott, reporting for the Navy Times, March 16, 1981, discovered that a state court had awarded a former spouse damages because her former military spouse refused to retire so she could get a portion of his retired pay.
In an article by Bruce Covill, Army, Navy, Air Force Times, April 14, 1977, he noted that one of the community property states, Texas, had recorded a state court judge's ruling in 1960 that military retired pay constituted property and could be divided between husband and wife in a divorce action.
Texas, in the minds of its congressional delegation had one insurmountable problem, it wasn't able to enforce payment due to a quirk in its constitutional law. The State had no alimony or garnishment statute. Although Texas may have wished for the Federal government to collect and pay its court orders involving the division of military retired pay as community property, the Comptroller General of the United States, in decision B-190985, gave service secretaries legal basis for refusing to follow Texas community property attachments to military retired pay.
Texas' predicament led former U. S. Representative Kent Hance (TX) to introduce H.R. 3677 in early 1980 authorizing the Service Secretaries to pay 'another person' part of a service member's retired pay as a result of a court decree, etc., or 'any court-approved property settlement.' Hance reintroduced his proposal in 1981 as H.R. 1711. Eleven (11) of his co-sponsors were Texans. (More on the Texas situation, pp 10-11.)
ESTABLISHING A PRECEDENT
Despite protests to the contrary, the civilian community, including Members of Congress, incorrectly referred to military retired pay (also 'retainer pay' payable to Navy and Marine Corps personnel with more than 20 years of active service but less than 30) as a 'pension.' The late U.S. Representative Les Aspin used the term 'pension' during his attacks on the military retirement system. Even such military-oriented publications as the Army, Air Force, and Navy Times used the word. It wasn't too long before some uninformed service members began to refer to their military retired pay as a pension.
It is of little wonder that the media adopted the misnomer and used it in such articles to describe military retired pay. Newspapers had a field day with former U. S. Representative Patricia Schroeder's quotes on the plights of ex-spouses not in receipt of any part of their ex-husbands' retired civil service or military 'pensions.' William Raspberry of The Washington Post was one of the first to pick up the Schroeder banner after she introduced legislation in early 1977 to authorize splitting retired 'pensions' between federal employees and their former spouses.
THE PROPOSALS
In introducing her first bill, seeking the division of civil service retirees' annuities, US Representative Patricia Schroeder hailed the fact that at least former spouses of military personnel would be eligible to receive social security benefits from their military sponsors' contributions to that program. However, this did nothing later to dissuade her from going after the retired pay of military members. She provided 'heart-rending' stories for publication in the Congressional Record of former spouses left without financial or other support.
Schroeder's initial proposal to divide military retired pay specified that:
Marriage must last for 10 years while the military member is serving the 20 years to be entitled to retired pay.
Division to be prorated on years of service not to exceed 50 percent of the retired pay. For example, being married for 20 years while the member was 'earning' the entitlement gave the former spouse a 50 percent share.
Member must provide survivor benefits for ex-spouse unless the latter declines.
Payment to ex-spouse terminates upon remarriage prior to age 60. (Applicable also in her Federal Retirees proposals.)
Applies to military personnel retiring after enactment.
If divorce occurs while member is on active duty, the ex-spouse could later claim a portion of retired pay for time married.
Schroeder went on to introduce successive proposals in the 96th and 97th Congresses. (1979-81 and 1981-82) All were similar in content and all terminated payments to former spouses on remarriage before age 60. In all three bills she used the term 'pension' in describing military retired pay. Two (2) examples are quoted below.
"This bill recognizes that both spouses contribute to the service member's ability to earn a wage and receive a pension."
"The major policy question before us is whether pension plans should continue to emphasize benefits for retired workers solely?"
Schroeder's quest to have Congress amend Federal statutes so that military retired pay would no longer belong exclusively to the service member set off a number of related proposals.
In addition to the Hance bill, H.R. 3677, former Senators DeConcini and McGovern and U.S. Representative Joseph Fisher (VA) sponsored legislation that would provide either financial or administrative support to ex-spouses of service members. Fisher's bill required the Department of Defense (DOD) to notify the military retiree that his or her retired pay would be divided by a court order, etc., but the retiree would have no recourse to halt the payments. On the other hand, civil service personnel were granted an additional 30 days to initiate legal action to challenge the validity of the order.
Meanwhile, earlier actions by the Executive Branch, the Civil Service Commission and the General Accounting Office (GAO), opposed the Schroeder legislative proposals awaiting consideration by Congress.
THE 1980-81 HEARINGS
On May 28, 1980, the late U. S. Representative Bill Nichols, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Military Compensation, conducted a hearing to consider Schroeder's bill, H.R. 2817, and the Hance and Fisher proposals.
In his introductory remarks, the chairman stated:
"The (military retirement) benefit system is designed to attract and retain the quantity and quality of military personnel needed. To this end, it must provide equitable compensation in conjunction with a benefit package that provided the incentive to choose the military as a career. Providing benefits to dependents can be justified, in part, on the basis of comparability with the private sector. However, extending certain benefits to former spouses neither directly enhances career attractiveness nor addresses a problem with regard to comparability. Whether the Federal government provides assistance to former spouses of military personnel through a military benefit program or whether that assistance is provided through standard social programs, that assistance is a payment from the public at large to a specific group. It is not for services rendered or an entitlement earned; it is a transfer payment."
Among the witnesses at the May 28, 1980 hearing was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy. He advised the subcommittee that DOD was opposed to the Schroeder bill, H.R. 2817. His opposition was supported by four major military organizations. Of the two (2) women's panels, Ex-Partners of Servicemen for Equality (EXPOSE) and Action for Former Military Wives, only EXPOSE (with all of its 300 members nationwide) chose to endorse the Schroeder bill.
The following major points helped to convince the subcommittee to take no further action on H.R. 2817. Although cited to oppose a future Senate bill (see below), they apparently were ignored by that body's oversight panel.
Military retirees are subject to the applicable provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). (Spouses are not.)
Military retirees may be recalled to active duty. (Spouses cannot.)
Military retirees do not have 'property rights' to their retired pay. It is earned on a day-by-day availability to serve if recalled. The day the retiree dies is the day his or her retired pay terminates. Additionally, military retirees are subject to a variety of rules and regulations that can reduce military retired pay. (Spouses are not.)
Enlisted service members, including combat veterans, can be honorably but involuntarily discharged and commissioned officers may resign with as many as 19 years, 11 months, and 29 days without any compensation or benefits forthcoming. They have served longer than 10 years (as in the former spouses' proposals) yet are entitled to nothing from the Armed Forces for their sacrifices and hardships endured while serving their Nation. (Why, then, should spouses with less than 20 years be considered above the service rendered by these men and women, many of them combat veterans?)
Public Law 95-617 (1975) authorized garnishment of active and retired military pay to satisfy state-court ordered alimony and child support payments. (Later amended so that alimony would not include transfer of property as a result of divisions of property between spouses or former spouses.) (It is worthy to note that the major military organizations, numbering more than 600,000 members, did not object to the garnishment of military retired pay for court-ordered alimony or child support payments.)
Chairman Nichols conducted a second hearing in November 1981 to hear from Reps. Schroeder (H.R. 3039), Whitehorse, Vic Fazio and Hance. Supporting them were three (3) women's groups with two (2) military associations providing the opposition. Nichols noted that the issue is 'complex and emotional'... thought must be given to the role to be played by the Federal versus the state government in divorce cases and "the rights and well-being of the military member as well as the former spouse."
In the Fall of 1980, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal of a retired military officer who had been ordered by a California Court to split nearly half of his retired pay with a former spouse. He argued, among other points, that he was not subject to the jurisdiction of the California Court and was exempt from that State's community property law. Further, he claimed that the State was violating the Federal supremacy clause by interfering with Congress' authority to provide a retirement system for the Armed Forces. McCarty also mentioned the split between the States on treatment of military retired pay in divorce cases. And the fact that it encouraged forum shopping for a divorce by military spouses.
Meanwhile, the passage of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 brought a feeling of anxiety to the military community, in particular the major military organizations representing more than a million service members; officers and enlisted, active duty, reserve and guard, and retired. Seven (7) of the organizations joined in an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the appellant McCarty. The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), The Retired Officers Association (TROA), Reserve Officers Association (ROA), Marine Corps League (MCL), Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA), Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) and National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS) requested that the U. S. Supreme Court rule in favor of protecting military retired pay from State community property laws.
Filing a brief in support of Mrs. McCarty were; Action for Former Military Wives, Ex-Partners of Servicemen for Equality, National Military Wives Association, Association of American Foreign Service Women, National Organization for Women Legal Defense and Education Fund, some California women's groups (estimated to be less than 10,000 members), and eight (8) members of Congress. The eight were: U. S. Representatives Pat Schroeder, John Burton, Millicent Fenwick, Margaret Heckler, Barbara Mikulski, John Seiberling, Olympia Snowe, and Howard Wolpe.
In spite of the anxiety, the military organizations believed that the Supreme Court and Congress would prevail in favor of military retirees for the following reasons:
Foreign Service and Civil Service retirement systems, unlike that of the military, were contributory. Each had a vested program, the military did not.
Neither of the two Federal systems had mandatory recall-to-active employment as did the military retiree.
Neither of the two Federal systems had a program of contributing to social security and, therefore, had no former spouses' benefit to offer. The military, however, did have such a program.
Neither of the two Federal systems required their retired members to suffer a loss of retired pay, as is the case for military retirees, for violating one of their regulations without judicial process, or for being employed by a person furnishing naval supplies or war materials to the United States, or engaging in selling, contracting or negotiating to sell certain supplies to Federal entities listed in 37 USC, 801.
Neither of the two Federal systems required their retired members to follow a lifetime of regulations as is the case of military retirees.
Some of the above reasons were reiterated in the amici curiae filed in the McCarty case by the seven (7) military organizations noted above.
"The fundamental purpose of retired pay of military personnel is to provide for the national defense. It is this fundamental purpose which requires the finding that there is a federal interest to protect in the case before the Court, that the federal interests dictate a finding that retired pay is not a vested property right. The findings by scattered state courts that retired pay is a vested property right, based upon certain characteristics of the payment, pose significant threats to the special nature of this 'entitlement' and its function in national defense."
Once again, in the amici curiae, the associations voiced their support for court ordered alimony and child support payments. "They are in agreement that the power of a state to require support from any of its citizens is a parochial matter subject only to the due process test of a rational basis for any law."
THE DECISION
In its opinion, the Supreme Court on June 26, 1981 held that "Federal law precludes a state court from dividing military retired pay pursuant to state community property laws."
"(a) There is a conflict between the terms of the federal military retirement statutes and the community property right asserted by appellee. The military retirement system confers no entitlement to retired pay upon the retired member's spouse, and does not embody even a limited 'community property concept.' Rather, the language, structure, and history of the statutes make it clear that retired pay continues to be the personal entitlement of the retiree."
Further, the Court explained that "the application of community property principles to military retired pay threatens grave harm to 'clear and substantial' federal interests." Moreover, "... such a division (of military retired pay) has the potential to interfere with the congressional goals of having the military retirement system serve as an inducement for enlistment and re-enlistment and as an encouragement to orderly promotion and a youthful military."
The Court did recognize the plight of ex-spouses. It stated that an ex-spouse's situation may be mitigated by the right to claim social security benefits and garnishee military retired pay for support, but that Congress may wish for a need to provide more protection. Congress now had carte blanche to change the system.
SENATE ACTION
While the Supreme Court was weighing the McCarty case, the Senate Armed Services Committee's Manpower and Personnel Subcommittee was working on the introduction and consideration of a proposal to divide military members' retired pay with their former spouses. In early 1981 the panel, chaired by former Iowa Senator Roger Jepsen, offered a proposal for review, later introduced as S.1814.
Meanwhile, others, including Representatives Schroeder and Hance, sponsored their own bills dealing with the ex-spouse issue. Schroeder's bill, H.R. 3039; Hance's H.R. 1711; former Senator Hatfield's S. 888; and former Senator DeConcini's S. 1453, became subjects of a September 22, 1981 hearing before the Jepsen panel.
At the hearing the list of witnesses was restricted to one (1) military organization opposed to the bills while two (2) small women's organizations representing affirmative action were allowed to provide testimony. From that date forward, until the proposal was adopted by the Senate Armed Services Committee, none of the hearings scheduled by the Jepsen panel included as a witness a representative of an opposing military organization. Only witnesses favoring the ex-spouses' proposals were invited to testify.
Accordingly, things would not go well for the military organizations desiring to maintain military retired pay as an exclusive right of the service member. Comments by the chairman and ranking member were weighted heavily in favor of changing the retirement system so that former spouses would be able to obtain a percentage of the military member's retired pay. DOD's statement had changed from a negative position on the Schroeder's proposal to a neutral one awaiting instructions from the President's office. Responding to a Jepsen question, the DOD spokesman said that "most of us" (in DOD) agree to splitting the (retiree's) check. From this hearing, until the enactment of the USFSPA, DOD's position remained ambiguous.
Representative Schroeder also appeared before the Jepsen panel. She endorsed Hance's H.R. 1711 or DeConcini's S. 1453 "if the Subcommittee finds that stronger language is necessary to override the Supreme Court's McCarty decision." She then spoke of her proposal, once again voicing support for terminating retired pay division if the former spouse remarried before age 60.
The military organizations continued to seek support for their position. They hoped for a chance to present their case before the Subcommittee; however, that hope faded as stronger support materialized favoring the Jepsen proposal. Even the military hierarchy appeared to be abandoning its opposition to the former spouses’ proposal. In one example, the four uniformed manpower chiefs failed to give a clear indicator as to their Service's position.
The organizations then visited a number of offices of House and Senate members of the Texas delegation urging Texas to change its laws to permit garnishment for alimony and child support payments in lieu of using Federal statutes to provide compensation to former spouses. The attempt was futile. Except for a small minority, the delegation proved to be four-square in favor of changing Federal law to circumvent their state's failure to provide protective measures for former spouses.
The Texas interest in the Hance-Schroeder-Jepsen initiative became more apparent following the Supreme Court decision of June 26, 1981. In a July 13, 1981 Air Force Times edition, Tom Philpott reported that a source told him that "... most of the hue and cry (over McCarty) is coming from Texas, where there is no alimony and a wife who doesn't receive a property distribution doesn't receive anything."
As a result, the Texas congressional delegation was playing a major role in having changes made to the military retirement system. Conversations with Rep. Hance verified the delegation's commitment to revising Federal law 'because it is easier than trying to amend the Texas constitution.'
MARK UP AND INTRODUCTION OF AMENDMENTS
The Jepsen panel approved its version of the former spouses’ protection act, S. 1814, and quickly scheduled it for a mark-up by the full SASC. The opposing military associations reacted by contacting Senator John Warner seeking his intervention. At the mark-up he moved to have the proposal recommitted to the Jepsen panel for further consideration. He reasoned that since only one military organization had the opportunity to voice its objections, it was only fair to allow the others to have the same opportunity as did the many groups favoring the bill.
Jepsen and Exon objected and Tower sided with them. However, before announcing his decision to rule against the Warner motion, Tower went so far as to state that he was a member of one of the opposing enlisted military organizations and had heard their testimony. This came as a surprise to that organization's representative who was present for the mark up. He (as well as the other military organization representatives present) was astounded when Jepsen boasted that the Subcommittee had four hearings and they (the military organizations) had a chance to testify. Exon, the Subcommittee's ranking minority, echoed Jepsen. He, too, claimed that everyone had a chance to be heard.
On July 14, 1982, the Senate Armed Services Committee referred the bill, S. 1814, to the full Senate for consideration. The very next day, Thursday, July 15, 1982, Rep. Schroeder, without comment, and among other amendments, introduced the Senate version as an amendment to the FY 1983 Defense Authorization Bill. Twelve (12) days later, July 27, 1982, just prior to adjourning for the day, and without a hearing on the new proposal, the amendment came to the House floor for consideration. However, debate was suspended until the following morning.
After Schroeder introduced her amendment on July 15, concerned military organization representatives met the following week with Rep. Nichols, then chairing the HASC subcommittee having oversight on the issue. The purpose was to determine a method to sidetrack the proposal. However, Nichols advised the group it is an election year and momentum was such that there is no chance to slow it down. Instead, he placed an offer on the table to consider amendments to the Schroeder proposal. A number of suggestions were made, but only a few were accepted. Without the organizations' knowledge he incorporated these into an umbrella amendment to the Schroeder amendment. Nichols introduced his amendment on July 27, 1982.
THE FLOOR DEBATE
The debate on the now Schroeder-Hance-Whitehurst amendment began the following day, July 28, 1982. The three, all attorneys-at-law, had a supporting cast of some nine (9) member attorneys to speak in favor of the amendment. It was not surprising then to learn that the only supporting document introduced during the debate by Schroeder, et al, was a letter from the American Bar Association (ABA).
The number of attorneys was so overwhelming that Rep. Nichols, leading one of the two opposing sides, admitted that he was "in a rather uncomfortable situation ... beset on both sides from people who are learned in the law." And the learned appeared to take full advantage of the task at hand. They embellished many of their remarks in swaying the jury of peers to vote for the cause. For example:
"(The McCarty decision) has materially and adversely affected the practice of family law.'
"State courts are holding up action on divorce cases until Congress resolves the conflict."
Further embellishment came through the use of the word 'pension.' Referenced any number of times to describe or allude to military retired pay, it left those who were not knowledgeable a vision of a payment for past services rather than what it really is, reduced pay for reduced services.
The Texas delegation, as anticipated, continued its role in the proceedings. In addition to Rep. Hance, Texas Congressmen Sam Hall, Jr., Martin Frost, Abraham Kazen and Jake Pickle offered their supportive views on the Schroeder-Hance-Whitehorse amendment. Ignoring the Federal law authorizing garnishment of military pay and retired pay, Frost and Kazen pled their case. Frost: "The amendment is definitely needed for the courts in the State of Texas. ... The State courts in Texas already consider such pay in divorce settlements; however, there is no garnishment or enforcement provision to insure the due award to a former spouse on the basis of a qualified court order." Kazen: "... the great State of Texas does not have a garnishment law. We cannot go after anybody's salary or anybody's pension or anything else."
Early in the debate, Schroeder advised her audience that the amendment "simply returns to the State courts the authority to treat military retired pay as it does other public and private pensions." The opposition should have caught this and countered with, 'the States never had the authority to divide military retired pay from the beginning.'
Subtleties also were employed by the Schroeder-Hance-Whitehorse team and its supporters. Some are quoted below (Underlines supplied):
"I am very saddened that we cannot give military spouses at least equal rights with Foreign Service and the CIA- but to not do anything would be a tragedy and really put (military spouses) in the worst of all possible positions."
"I think we should give military wives at least equal rights with Foreign Service spouses and CIA spouses."
The key words in each of the above statements were, 'at least equal rights with Foreign Service and CIA spouses,' but apparently equity never played a part in the Schroeder-Hance-Whitehorse amendment. Despite assurance that her amendment was, "absolutely (the) bare minimum," was not "breaking new ground," nor does it "put former military spouses in a more advantaged position ...," the statements made throughout the debate by Schroeder and company veiled the real intent of the amendment to authorize enhanced benefits for military spouses. At least Rep. William Ford was honest enough to acknowledge this when he boasted, "I think (the Schroeder amendment) is far superior, for example, to what we ended up doing with the Foreign Service officers."
Nichols warned the assembly that there were "uncertainties, ambiguities and potential problems" in the Schroeder amendment and that he had "some very significant reservations" concerning its implications. Rep. Don Mitchell cautioned: "Equity, I feel, is the theme ... not just equity for divorced spouses. Even though the scales have been balanced unfairly ... I do not feel we should unbalance them on the other side in an attempt to remedy the situation. ... (W)e must also provide equity for the members of the service."
During the proceedings, the following major problems or advantages emerged:
The military spouse will have the opportunity to forum shop. Toward the beginning of the debate, Rep. Hance remarked that in order for former spouses to get any type of the retired military pay- "they have to go to court and go from jurisdiction to jurisdiction." Later, during floor speeches by Reps. Nichols and Duncan Hunter, both called this fact to the attention of the assembly. Nichols: "The gentlewoman's amendment would subject a military member to the jurisdiction of a court solely because the member was residing in the State as a result of military orders." Duncan: "I think we do have a problem with forum shopping under the proposal by the gentlewoman from Colorado."
No remarriage provision; Schroeder reneged on her previous position of denying payments to former spouses who remarried before age 60. Previously she had introduced four (4) bills in successive Congresses that included the denial. Her latest, H.R. 3039, was introduced in the very same Congress now hosting the debate. Referring to the Nichols' amendment, Schroeder expressed fault with its remarriage provision. "This really concerns me because the fact that (the military spouse) remarries or not should not have anything to do with the rights that she had vested in her time that she was working and living with her husband who was in the military." Nichols reminded Schroeder of her earlier statements pleading for equal rights, that the Foreign Service and CIA both had remarriage terminal provisions and, "A similar restriction is only fair for the military member as well, who, to a large extent, is similarly situated."
Courts can order payments to former spouses with less than 10 years of marriage to the service member. Both Schroeder and Hance argued to retain this provision. Schroeder suggested that although she, as a general rule, believed pensions should not be divided after short marriages, there were always "exceptional cases." She reported further that the Foreign Service Act specified that nothing therein prevented State courts from dividing pensions in cases where the former spouse was married less than 10 years. Hance, using a different tactic, pleaded that the rights under a pension bill or retirement bill "should vest from the first day." Schroeder was reminded by Nichols that recent changes in the Foreign Service system and those proposed for the CIA "restricted payments of portions of retired pay to situations in which the marriage lasted 10 years." Former Rep. Don Mitchell also reminded the assembly that both Schroeder and Whitehurst had the 10-year restriction in their original bills. Mitchell, who at the time was the ranking minority member on the House Armed Services compensation subcommittee, apprized his colleagues that the service member had no vesting rights. "We should take into account, he said, "that there is no vesting in the military ... If you are there 20 years, you get it. If you are there 19 years, you do not."
HAS NO HISTORY OF HEARINGS IN THE HOUSE.
Schroeder and other team members alluded to the fact that her amendment had been considered in the House. "(T)here were lots of hearings on this in the House," she claimed. Later, she again implied that the House "has had lots of hearings on this, on the CIA, on Foreign Service, on civil service." In truth, there were a number of hearings to consider the CIA, Foreign Service and civil service proposals, but none, absolutely none in the House on her proposal now on the House floor. Nichols, whose panel had this authority, alluded to Schroeder's statements as erroneous. He said he would rather have been able to consider this "rather complex and far-reaching issue within the committee to ensure that the full impact of these changes could be evaluated in detail." He rightfully charged that Schroeder's amendment "was an attempt to circumvent the system." The House Armed Services ranking member, former Rep. William Dickinson, said the House should go about it in the more normal way. "This really should be the subject of extensive hearings so that all parties interested can have their day in court ... to develop the problems that will arise from this ... and we know what we are doing." Nichols and Dickinson were joined by Mitchell who noted there wasn't sufficient testimony received. "I would hate to pass a bill ... because we acted prematurely this year." Former Rep. Richard White, one-time chairman of the House Armed Services personnel subcommittee, went even further in his observation. He said he could not be silent "when the House might produce what I regard as defective legislation. ... Both (Schroeder's and Nichols' amendments) create more loopholes than they seek to cure." White also reminded his colleagues that there was no mark up on the amendments and no opportunity for the House to pass a separate type of program.
Provides minimum protection for service members. Rep. Whitehorse assured members of the House that, "The service member is protected by several clauses in this legislation." He noted that one limited the amount of the award of retired pay to 50 percent of disposable retired or retainer pay, failing to add that the amount could go as high as 65 percent. Another would forbid the courts from ordering a service member to retire in order to effectuate payments from the member's retired pay, yet he made no mention that the amendment did not forbid the courts from ordering the service member to begin payments out of his or her active duty pay. A third clause stipulated that the former spouse could not transfer, dispose of by will or inheritance, or sell her portion of retired pay, although it is doubtful that this clause was a protective measure for service members. At other times during the debate other clauses were briefly addressed. One deterred the courts from ordering service members to enroll in a survivor benefit plan for their former spouses; however, they could voluntarily do so if they chose. Another came to light when Rep. Sam Hall, Jr., a Texan, inquired if there was a provision in the Schroeder amendment allowing the courts to reopen previously concluded final judgments? Schroeder replied in the negative but she did not inform Hall that there was no provision in the proposal to stop the courts from doing just that if so inclined.
OTHER PROBLEM AREAS
A number of questionable clauses in the Schroeder amendment, also incorporated in the Nichols' proposal, spelled trouble for service members. An attempt by military organizations to have the House and Senate conferees rescind, amend or correct a number of these was not successful. Most important, perhaps, was the lack of enforcement in protecting the service members' rights once the court order is received by the members' Service Secretary. Upon receipt, if the order appears "valid on its face," neither the Secretary nor any other Federal agency is required to validate jurisdiction.
The most depressing news came in response to a query to the Solicitor General of the United States. He said that the only enforcement of any violation of the USFSPA by a State court would have to be by an appeal to a higher court. The onus would be on the military retiree to pursue litigation.
THE END: YET ANOTHER BEGINNING
In spite of the warnings by Nichols and others opposed to the Schroeder amendment, the election year momentum made it impossible to have it recommitted to the Committee for further consideration. Nichols, who had no choice but to introduce an amendment to Schroeder's, argued that his was the better choice of the two. However, as Rep. White advised his colleagues, both Schroeder's and Nichols' amendments "created more loopholes than they seek to cure." Consequently, the Nichols' proposal prevailed by voice vote, but the remarriage provision and a few others fell by the wayside when House and Senate conferees met to sculpt the final language of the FY 1983 National Defense Authorization Bill."
Personal Stories
From a Retired Army Major in Fort Smith, Arkansas
I was awarded custody of my 4 minor kids and my ex-spouse was ordered to pay me $765 monthly child support. She never did pay it but she left my Army retirement alone. Two years later she remarried and went after my army retirement. By now I was 100 percent disabled service connected and the VA had me waiver my Army retirement pay. The judge awarded her half of the retirement and a back judgment for over $16,000 plus she did not have to pay child support until the judgment was paid. This resulted in her getting out of child support payments and getting a share of my VA disability compensation. My mental health worsened and I lost custody of the kids, my job and the will to live. Eventfully all four of my kids left their mother and came back to me. VA medication & counseling helped me and I remarried and I raised my four children without financial help or emotional help from my ex-wife, who avoided paying child support due to the USFSPA.
U.S. Congress, 3rd District Arkansas
From a Master Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy
My Ex-spouse filed for divorce and left me with two minor children three days prior to transferring overseas. Three weeks after our final divorce, she remarried and has remarried twice since. When we divorced, I was a First-Class Petty Officer (E-6), however she will benefit fourteen years later by receiving 43% of my retainer pay as a Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9). No matter how you look at that scenario, it is wrong. I will have dedicated 30 years of honorable service to my country and all I ask is to be respected in the same manner.
U.S. Congress, 1st District, FL
From a retired US Navy Officer
I served 22 years in the Navy as a pilot. I was deployed on several six-month cruses and many other, shorter cruses. My now ex-wife never worked - not outside the home or inside the home. We have one child who is now 18. I remarried three years ago and my ex-wife remarried one year ago. Her new husband makes in excess of $100,000/yr. My ex calls her half of my retirement pay, her "play money." I certainly did not "play" to earn it.
When our mutually agreed upon separation occurred, my ex knew all about the USFSPA. I learned about this law during my first meeting with my divorce attorney. I was told that is the way it is and there is no use bringing it up in court. The judge divided everything 50% which included two houses we had owned and had accumulated almost $200,000 in equity and mutual funds valued over $200,000. As the attorney stated, my retirement was never even discussed. The judge awarded her 50%.
I am now a school teacher in the public school system. I wanted to teach at the high school level and I enjoy it very much. However, my standard of living is about 1/3 of my ex's standard. I ask, where is the fairness and justice of this? What did my ex do in the Navy? Where was she when I was aboard ships for months at a time? What hardships did she endure? I'm also rated 40% disabled and this will go higher the older I become because of suffering a severe back injury. What disability did my ex end up with?
When I joined the Navy in 1977 this law was not part of my oath or any commitments I made. This law is unconstitutional and an outrage to those of us who faithfully served our country.
U.S. Congress, 4th District, LA
From an active duty CWO2 in the U.S. Coast Guard
I am a Chief Warrant Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. I have been serving on active duty for the last 19 years and continue to enjoy the opportunity to serve my country. I am originally from TAOS, NM, where my parents still reside and I plan to retire. I enlisted in the Coast Guard right after graduating from high school in 1983. In my 19 years of service I have continued to excel as a leader and mentor to enlisted personnel male and female alike. I have worked my way up the chain from Enlisted to Officer and feel that I am highly respected by my coworkers. I have helped Junior Officers better understand what the objectives of certain jobs involve, and maintained a level head when people’s lives depended on it. I have an exemplary record of achievements, both personal and team awards. I have never been the type to complain about policy or procedures, and never tried to "bump the system". I am however, one to speak up when I see something wrong or unjust.
In 1998 my husband of 13 years divorced me. At the time I was serving aboard a High Endurance Coast Guard Cutter home ported in Seattle, WA. We had been married 13 years, 12 of which I was in the USCG. I was very much surprised when my spouse informed me that he was in love with another woman. He stated because I was out at sea, he was lonely and wanted a divorce. During our marriage I had worked 2 part-time jobs to help put my ex-spouse through college. He received his degree and was hired by the State of Washington (since 1996). He has a secure and high paying job with full benefits. We did not have any children so it was not an issue of support. He is living very comfortably and most likely makes much more than I do. He has since re-married and has a child. As a result of the divorce my ex-husband was awarded 35% of my military retirement at my highest rank held. Since the time of the divorce I have advanced in my career significantly by being promoted from E-7 (Chief Petty Officer) to CWO2 (Commissioned Officer). The opportunity that I may excel even further before my intended retirement only makes me angry, knowing that my ex-husband benefits financially as I progress professionally.
I understand the original Act was created to provide assistance to the wives at home with small children and no trade skill or education at the time of a divorce. These days this is usually NOT the case!
U.S. Congress, 3rd District, NM
From an Air Force Major
I am on active duty but will retire 1 Apr 2003. I have received a court order in my divorce that grants my ex-wife 26% of my retired pay at 21 years. I have one daughter by my ex-wife who lives with me, my new wife, and our two other children. My ex-wife has never paid child support to me for the past seven years but expects to receive part of my retirement starting in April. She left me seven years ago because of her infidelity. My family and I shouldn't have to pay for this now, this is not fair.
U.S. Congress, 5th District, AZ
From a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer
I am a victim of USFSPA. During my divorce I discovered my Filipino ex-wife committed bigamy when she married me. In spite of the evidence of her having a prior marriage her requested divorce was granted along with half of my military retired pay. I have since the divorce, obtained an annulment of the marriage in the Philippines where the marriage was performed. The marriage document is now amended to read null and void from the beginning of marriage. I sent this to DFAS hoping to have my retired pay fully restored. After two appeals my request remains denied. DFAS says they have a facially acceptable divorce decree and they have no authority under provisions of USFSPA to accept Philippine court orders. Today my ex-wife is happy living together with the man she was legally married to before she married me. I have certified copies of both marriage contracts and proof that the first marriage was never lawfully terminated even until now. Any assistance you could provide me concerning this would be greatly appreciated. I pray your efforts will be victorious for all of us concerned.
U.S. Congress, 11th District, TX
From an active duty Marine Corps First Sergeant
I am a victim of USFSPA. While a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina, I caught my wife at the apartment of my executive officer. My wife left with our 3 children and eventually married my executive officer. The only way adultery was proven was the child that was born, was born before my divorce was final. I have custody of the 3 children and she hasn't paid any child support in over a year and a half. Even though she left me on her own accord, committed adultery with my executive officer, and has married him (they have 2 children now) she was awarded 25% of my retirement.
From a retired US Navy CW04
In 1987, I retired from the Navy as a CWO4. Upon retirement, I took a job with a defense contractor in Groton, CT. My office was in the Newport, RI area where I worked on numerous contracts for approximately two years. When the contracts expired, I was transferred to the Groton office. This change in locations, I had bought a home in the Newport area, added three hours to my nine hour work day. Things were going along fine for a few years until I noticed a change in my wife. One night, the topic turned to divorce. I had a feeling that she was having an affair but could not prove it. After she moved out, I was bringing some mail to her apartment and met up with her landlord, a retired Navy pilot. Since there was a storm approaching, I didn’t want to leave her mail outside. He suggested that I put it in her car. I told him that her car was locked and he then suggested that I put it in her friends’ car. I had seen this vehicle in her driveway before but because it had an officer’s sticker on the windshield, I figured it was his. He stated that this friend spends the nights with her. I had my lawyer, a Navy reserve JAG Capt, check on the owner of this vehicle. It belonged to a LT Alan Boyer. I asked my lawyer what I could do about this adulterous affair since the divorce petition had not gone up before the court. He told me that the courts don’t care about adultery and that all that mattered was how much of my retirement pay my wife was going to receive. To add salt to the wound, six months prior to the court date. my wife and LT Boyer moved to San Diego and set up household. After our divorce became final, she and LT Boyer were married.
I have been in contact with my elected officials and the Military Officers Association of America concerning the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA) and its unfair provisions. I have also written to the Chief of Naval Personnel and the Chief of Naval Operations but have received no response. It now appears that nothing is going to be done to change this act. I also contacted the Naval Legal Services office at the Brunswick Naval Air Station to see about filing charges against LT Boyer. (I believe that he is now a CDR.) I was told that the statute of limitations had expired and that even if I was able to bring him up on charges, it was up to his command whether or not to actually pursue the charge.
My ex-spouse was awarded 27% of my retirement pay for having an affair. Not a bad deal! Do you think that if I had an affair, I would have been awarded a settlement like that? I don't think so!
From a retired Army Captain in Korea
While I was deployed to JSA Korea my ex-wife was having a lesbian affair. She filed for divorce (Thank God). My lawyer told me she was entitled to 50% of my retired pay. She gets my retired pay every month. If you can show me any justice in this awful law please let me know. I hate to think our kids are dying for such a stupid government that would sponsor such a law.
From a retired Navy SW1
I am a retired Seabee, SW1 (E6) USN. I transferred to the fleet reserve in January 1993 and started getting my retainer/retired pay and in September 2002 transferred to the retired list.
My former spouse and I divorced in Jan 1987. In the final decree I was ordered to pay my former spouse 161/247 which is 32.5 %. In September 2005 I received a Stipulated Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) from her attorney. It contained incorrect information and appeared to change the original divorce decree; I refused to sign it on several points. I sent several letters to her attorney stating that all my former spouse had to do was get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the court, fill out DD2293 and send them both off to DFAS within 90 days and she would get her check in the mail. Instead my former spouse took me back to court. I have not seen her since 1995 while attending my mother’s funeral. I live in Maine now, since 1994, and I had to travel to Santa Ana California to attend court on 18 December, 2006.
Yep you guessed it the court did not honor the original decree, 161/247=32.5% and I was ordered by the judge to now pay 50% of my retired pay. My former spouse has been remarried and divorced twice since our divorce.
How can a law allow a former spouse to come back into someone’s life, especially after 19 years, and turn it upside down?
There should be a statute of limitations on this. Isn’t a divorce decree a contract between 2 people? Is there a statute of limitation on a contract?
From a retired Air Force Master Sergeant
My horror story is like many others I’ve read. My ex-wife’s father was a retired Colonel, so she knew the USFSPA law very well. As soon as I went over 10 years in the Air Force, she informed me that she was bi-sexual, had a current lesbian lover, and wanted to move out. I tried to salvage my marriage with counseling, Christian forgiveness, and understanding, but she eventually moved out to live with her flavor of the month lover at that time. She signed over the house, the kids, and of course the bills, so that she could walk away scot-free with no worries. I accepted those terms just to get her out of my life that she was continually trying to destroy (we had over $18,000 in credit card debt when she left). I had primary custody of my three kids until they were old enough to make decisions on their own as to where they lived. The only thing that I had no control over was of course giving her part of my retirement for the rest of her life in reward for her cheating, lying, and selfishness that had made my life, and my kid’s lives, a living hell.
After we were divorced, she gloated over the fact that she had screwed me out of some of my retirement. And, on top of that, she never paid me one cent in child support before or after we were divorced. Now here’s the kicker. For my entire enlisted career (Retired MSgt, USAF), I never left the states due to the nature of my career field (classified R&D and T&E). In fact, I never left our home state. The entire time we were married, my ex-wife was less than 4 hours away from her mother. She always encouraged me to go TDY so she could screw around on me while I was gone, and then spend my saved TDY money when I got back. But when I finally divorced her, I was told by my attorney that she would get part of my retirement for the rest of her life, and that there was nothing I could do about it. As far as I’m concerned, she gave up any right to any portion of my retirement when she walked out on me and our children. My right of “Due Process” was definitely denied to me.
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What can you do?
To Achieve a Reformed or Rescinded USFSPA:
Contact Senators and House Representatives
Inform your Representative and Senator of the need to substantially modify the USFSPA, specifically members of the Armed Services Committees.
Senate Committee | House Committee
Suggest this be done face to face if possible as Reps and Senators are not always versed on specific issues. Use the resources within this site to educate yourself and your legislator. Also, work together with other USFSPA victims to challenge your own state’s alimony law.
Spread the Word
Post on Social Media, Facebook, Twitter to let others know about the USFSPA and how it unfairly and unconstitutionally singles out uniformed service members. Compare and contrast the limitations of your state’s alimony laws, i.e. payments cease upon remarriage, etc. Share your own story.
Keep VALOR Updated
If you have a divorce case pending, keep us informed. There are specific steps and provisions that can be beneficial to you before your case is finalized in court.
We can likely help.
Support VALOR
Donate to the Go Fund Me page, every little bit helps.
What can you do?To Achieve a Reformed or Rescinded USFSPA:
Contact Senators and House Representatives
Inform your Representative and Senator of the need to substantially modify the USFSPA, specifically members of the Armed Services Committees.
Senate Committee | House Committee
Suggest this be done face to face if possible as Reps and Senators are not always versed on specific issues. Use the resources within this site to educate yourself and your legislator. Also, work together with other USFSPA victims to challenge your own state’s alimony law.
Spread the Word
Post on Social Media, Facebook, Twitter to let others know about the USFSPA and how it unfairly and unconstitutionally singles out uniformed service members. Compare and contrast the limitations of your state’s alimony laws, i.e. payments cease upon remarriage, etc. Share your own story.
Keep VALOR Updated
If you have a divorce case pending, keep us informed. There are specific steps and provisions that can be beneficial to you before your case is finalized in court.
We can likely help.
Support VALOR
Donate to the Go Fund Me page, every little bit helps.