Hanabusa Votes to Fund Death Benefits for Families of Fallen Troops

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Colleen Hanabusa

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted for a measure that ensures the families of U.S. servicemembers who are killed in combat receive death gratuity and other benefits from the Department of Defense during the government shutdown.

“When military families lose a loved one in combat, the last thing they should have to worry about at that painful moment is finances,” said Hanabusa. “When the Pay Our Military Act was signed into law, it was widely believed that the $100,000 Death Gratuity payment would be included in this bill; unfortunately, when the Department of Defense made its interpretation of the law, it was not. I was appalled to read yesterday’s news reports that said the families of our fallen heroes were being denied death benefits because of the government shutdown, and I am pleased Congress is taking swift action to fix this problem. These brave men and women gave their lives to protect our families; the least we can do is take care of theirs.”

Under the military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), the survivors of active duty personnel who are killed in combat are provided an annuity of $100,000. The Death Gratuity payment is intended to help cover costs until survivor benefits kick in. Family members are also allowed to stay at government quarters for free for 365 days or receive 365 days of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) if they live in civilian housing.

The bill passed the House unanimously and now heads to the Senate.

 

Comments

comments

9 COMMENTS

  1. bring all our troops home from all the American empire and won't have to pay gratuity for troops killed in combat.

  2. When all America's troops are brought home, they will have to be sent back out to fight the wars that will ensue when American presence is absent. The world does not behave well on it's own.

  3. hey RD 36 – what you are saying is unconstitutional.if the Founding Fathers were alive and standing next to you,they be flipping you a middle finger. with both hands.and for those families that are being denied all that tax payer provided gratuities and bonuses and survivor benefits, please consider not to allow any more of your loved ones to go fight in wars in far away countries that had nothing to do with 9/11 or our national security.

  4. North Korea would initiate war with the south about 2hrs after the last US troop is withdrawn from South Korea. The USSR would have invaded West Germany during the cold war throught the Fulda Gap if it were not for the US having several tank divisions there. Chances of global war would increase when the US retreats from it's global outposts. No one else keeps the bad guys in check like the USA can.

    Search with in yourself, and you'll know that what I say is true. Your cheap, crusty ad hominem attacks agains me that will follow will just expose you for the fool that you are.

  5. I hope that the young americans in uniform will at least consider the notion that our government lied to the American people about going to all these wars,especially starting with desert storm back in '90-91 with the first George bush. it is all about the 1% of the ruling oligarchs that are profiting from these wars and consolidating enormous power and influence.it is about a new world order.it is about the wall street banksters who have been money laundering for Hezbollah,al Qeda,and the drug cartels and the political class that accepts donations from them.that is just one example of the criminality and evil of those who are involved.our men and women in uniform are being used,mis-used,abused,disrespected and killed by these vicious people.

  6. For the men and women in the US Military and their families: the Oath of Enlistment is the military's honor and foundation of armed service: " Defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic." it's my understanding that Basic training includes instructions to REFUSE UNLAWFUL ORDERS, with officers authorized to arrest those that order them. The most unlawful order to recognize is to deploy for an obvious unlawful war.we need to arrest that 1% war criminal leadership in our gov't and media as well as those private sector profiteers
    as those in private sector profiteers.

  7. When i ended up being appalled for you to decode yesterday’s inexperienceds tells regardless the categories of your inert heroes had been fact denied passing rushessays away purposes previously with the appraise shutdown, asides I'm pleased Discussion is usually having fast agitation to install this condition. These daring males yet girls gave his or her lifestyles for you to coloring your individuals; the lowest we can carry out is usually realize problem regarding their own. ”.

  8. These undaunted men asides women gave their backgrounds to sanctuary our families; the minimal we can do is allure regard of theirs.” I was appalled to prophesy pay essay ended’s aliens reveals that said the families of our motionless heroes were specimen denied disintegration benefits living of the influence shutdown, plus I am pleased Diet is taking quick drive to arrange this puzzle.

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