WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the Senate voted 95 – 3 for a House-passed bill to restore cost-of-living pension increases for younger military retirees:

“This bill is a step forward but it doesn’t go as far as it should. The legislation restores the COLA for current retirees and members of the armed forces but keeps the cut in place for those who have recently joined the military or will join in the years to come. Many veterans’ organizations have major concerns about that and I share those concerns. A comprehensive veterans’ bill, which I hope the Senate will take up soon, would restore those cuts for all veterans – which is what we should be doing.”