Permits veterans to purchase military service credit for service rendered in the Iranian hostage crisis

BILL NUMBER:S3576

Title of bill

An act to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to permitting the purchase of military service rendered in the Iranian hostage crisis

Purpose

To permit the purchase of military service credit during mili- tary service rendered in the Iranian hostage crisis.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: The inclusion of section 'e' within subdivision 2, section 1000 of the Retirement and Social Security law, added by Chapter 548 of the laws of 2000, allowing for those military forces of the United States who participated in hostilities during the period November 4, 1979 until January 20, 1981, to be eligible for a maximum of three years of retirement credit for military service performed during the Iranian Hostage crisis.

Section 2: Effective date of bill.

Existing law

Chapter 548 of the laws of 2000 fails to recognize and give due diligence to the military forces who served in hostilities during the period November 4, 1979 until January 20, 1981, also known as the "Iranian Hostage Crisis." periods previously identified in this chapter include:

*December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946 (World War II);

*June 27, 1950 - January 31, 1955 (Korean War);

*February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War);

*June 1, 1983 - December 1, 1987 (Lebanon);

*October 23, 1983 - November 21, 1983 (Grenada);

*December 20, 1989 - January 31, 1990 (Panama);

*August 2, 1990 to the end of hostilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the united Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these location.

Justification

A series of events which rallied countless number of Iranians against a government that distributed uneven distribution of wealth and a westernizing influence of the United States led to the hostage and imprisonment of 66 Americans by Iranian student unions at both the U.S. Embassy in Teheran, Iran and the Iranian Foreign Ministry on November 4, 1979. Over the course of 444 days, a total of 52 hostages were kept captive after the release of several women and African-Ameri-

cans by the Iranian student unions. During this time, the hostages were paraded in front of television cameras, often blindfolded or hooded, and a failed military mission coded-named "Operation Eagle Claw" led to the deaths of eight U.S. Military personnel, fueling further discontent. With the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan on January 20, 1981, the ordeal cease to exist.

Reflecting back on a tough time for U.S. Military personnel to aid and bring home our hostages safe and soundly, this class/period in history should be rightly classified and grouped with other defined periods as specified within Chapter 548 of the laws of 2000. It was a contentious time for our military which called for strategic plans to both protect and ensure the lives of our hostages. For the efforts of the U.S. Mili- tary, they should be honored and given the privilege to buy back mili- tary service credit if they so choose.

Legislative history

2012: S. 5913 - Referred to Civil Service and Pensions

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

Shall take effect immediately.