Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Raphael Warnock have introduced the Coast Guard Combat-Injured Tax Fairness Act, aiming to rectify tax issues for combat-injured U.S. Coast Guard veterans. The legislation seeks to ensure these veterans receive the same benefits as those in other military branches.

"Wounded veteran is a wounded veteran, regardless the branch. They served and were hurt in the line of duty," said Dr. Cassidy. "This shouldn’t be a discussion. This should have been passed yesterday."

Senator Reverend Warnock emphasized the importance of equitable treatment for all service members: "Our servicemembers are the best among us, and the Coast Guard is no exception. It’s our duty to ensure all veterans receive the benefits they deserve," he stated.

The proposed act follows a 2016 law that returned improperly withheld taxes to combat-injured veterans from other branches but inadvertently excluded Coast Guard personnel due to a technical oversight.

Cassidy has been active on veteran issues as part of his role on the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introducing various bills aimed at improving healthcare and accountability within veteran services.