Provides credit to members of public retirement systems of the state for military service rendered during the cold war

2 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• David Carlucci

BILL NUMBER:S3952

Title of bill

An act to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to providing credit to members of public retirement systems of the state for military service rendered during the cold war

Purpose

To make eligible retirement benefits for United States military personnel that served between September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991; also known as the "Cold War".

Summary of provisions

The addition of subdivision 2-a to section 1000 of the retirement and social security law ("military service credit" portion).

Existing law

Military members upon application to New York State's public retirement system can obtain service credit of up to three years for three years of military duty if such military members were found to have participated in hostilities defined in subdivision 2, section 1000, of the retirement and social security law.

Justification

The Cold War was a decades-long struggle for global supremacy involving the United States and the Soviet Union. Certain factors made the Cold War a militarized struggle: Communism takeover in China, threats of Soviet nuclear weapons, tensions within Germany, the Truman Doctrine of 1947, the Warsaw Pact of 1955, the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and commencement of the Korean War. The U.S. and Soviet Union's power resonated around the globe, for there threat of a third world war was imminent with possessions of nuclear weapons. Military personnel stationed about were nervous and filled with anxiety on what may unfold, and what may encompass their services.

As such, many causalities occurred despite the exclusion of a third world war. Three-hundred and twenty-five Cold War Americans would perish as a result of hostile action, including two hundred plus airmen from Communist air defenses. Forty American intelligence aircrafts would be destroyed, and sixty-four cryptologists and forty crew members would lose their lives. American lifestyles were disrupted for adherence to military service support for scenarios warranted by the Cold War(1).

For our brave soldiers tireless efforts to protect and serve American freedoms, it is only fitting that these Cold War veterans are financially recognized for their service to our country.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.

Footnotes

(1) John Pike, Military: Cold War, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/cold_war.htm (July 2010).