Posted on 01/19/2005 6:22:22 AM PST by kahoutek
"Heroes Act Needed to Adequately Compensate Military Families for Combat Loss"
Congressman Terry Everett, R-Alabama, will introduce legislation when the House reconvenes later this month to enhance death benefits for military service members who lose their lives in combat. Everett says the legislation, known as the Honoring Every Requirement of Exemplary Service (HEROES) Act, is needed to adequately compensate military families for the combat loss of their loved ones who are defending America.
Congressman Everett, chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee on Strategic Forces, called the Heroes Act the least that the nation could do to honor those who give their lives in defense of freedom.
"America is at war and our men and women in uniform are currently risking and giving their lives for us," Everett said. "In return, our government is only paying a gratuity death benefit of $12,000 to the families who lose a loved one in combat.
"How can you tell a young widow with a family to care for that she will only receive a gratuity death benefit of $12,000 for the combat loss of her husband?" Everett asked. "This is unacceptable."
"In response, I am introducing in the House the Heroes Act to increase the gratuity death benefit from $12,000 to $100,000, and my legislation will also increase the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance maximum coverage from $250,000 to $400,000," Everett added.
"Our military personnel need to know that America is prepared to stand behind them and their families as they go into battle and I believe this increase of gratuity and life insurance benefits will send them a strong signal of our support."
Congressman Everett's legislation is the House companion to a Senate bill also slated for introduction this month by Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama.
The Heroes Act would apply to military personnel losing their lives in combat, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.
Furthermore, the Heroes Act would make retroactive payments of $238,000 to the families of those military personnel who've already lost their lives in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. This amount comes from the $88,000 increase over the present $12,000 gratuity payment was as well as the $150,000 increase that would have been available to the soldier's family through Service Members Group Life Insurance.
"I plan to aggressively push the Heroes Act when Congress returns," Everett noted. "This legislation will give our military personnel and their families greater comfort as they are called upon to defend America."
He's a little late. Congressman Dennis Moore of Kansas introduced legislation to do this last congressional term.
Better yet would be to increase hazard pay for those soldiers who are risking their lives every day. For those families who cant afford the monthly for insurance than we should pay the premiums but the $100k is misplaced honor for troop support.
Support them while they are alive,increase their pay and benefits, pay their insurance premiums if they cant afford it.
Did it pass?...........I guess the question should be why is it being re-introduced.
Make it retroactive to 9/11.
I don't think it made it out of committee. He introduced with Congressman Bachus of Alabama it last September 9 in a bipartaisan effort. The benefits were retroactive to 9/11/01. And he's said that he'll introduce it again, or work with any other congressman who is interested.
Why not all three? When you think about it, even that is
a drop in the bucket.
Yours is a good idea and so is this.
I think the death benefit should be on the order of $1,000,000. That would provide a spouse with $50,000 worth of income yearly if invested conservatively, plus provide for education of any children.
I have sympathy for 9/11 victims, but how can their family's windfall of millions be justified when our service men and women knowingly put themselves in harms way defending our country.
Right now, I pay less than $400 per year for half a million in life insurance. Surely the gov't can pony up the premium cost for a million dollar policy.
Still, when you think about it $100.000.00 compaired to ones
life time earnings for these young folks is nothing, nothing
at all.
Right now troops pay . . . I believe it is $16 a month for $250,000. You are also able to get $100,000 on your spouse and automatically get $10,000 on dependents and while this costs extra, it is not much. Increasing the death benefit . . . I don't know. I am certain that my wife would appreciate the extra money to make ends meet, but . . . I hate asking for money.
I would guess that if could afford to give the familes of those killed on 9-11-01 a million ofr so each, we can afford the same for those who die defending us.
liars figure and figures lie
There are big differences in "Death Benefits" and SGLI Insurance Benefits and VA Benefits, etc.
If it comes out of the mouth of a lawyer, a judge, or a politician - you can bet it is a LIE! They no nothing else.
I have read that some of the 9-11 families received up to 3 million, a tragedy, yes, but why them ? We have tagedies every day.
Frannie
Point is, you put it on the line everyday for the benefit
of the rest of us and you and yours should be able to know
that if the worst happens at least they won't be on the
streets.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.