Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) introduced a bill to combat what he calls problems in cost of living adjustments (COLA) for military personnel, brought on by the recent budget agreement.

“This nation desperately needs a return to fiscal normalcy and bipartisan cooperation. While the Bipartisan Budget Act is a step in that direction, it does so partly on the backs of our brave military veterans.”

In order to rectify the situation, yesterday, Congressman Fitzpatrick (R-Levittown) introduced a bill that would repeal cuts to retirement benefits in the budget and close loopholes in the IRS’s distribution of child tax credits. His office estimates closing fraudulent payments in the program would return $6 billion to the federal government over the next decade.

“That’s enough to remove the need to make any changes to military benefits.”

Fitzpatrick’s bill would mandate that applicants provide their Social Security numbers in order to receive a refund. This motion would adversely affect undocumented workers who collect child tax credits. Last year, Fitzpatrick protested to Treasury Secretary Geithner that the IRS allowed people in the United States illegally to fill out tax papers with an Individual Tax Identification Number, even though they were unauthorized to work and, thus, fill out taxes.

Daniel Rubini, a retired Army JAG officer who has also served as an administrative law judge for Social Security Administration Office of Hearings and Appeals, lauded Fitzpatrick’s bill.

“This is but one highly desirable step to take to keep the promise made to our soldiers. Get the fraud out of the system and put the money in the hands of our soldiers who have sacrificed so much. They have given to this country more than any other segment of our citizenry.”

Fitzpatrick reports there are forty-five co-sponsors for his bill.