Senate Passes Bipartisan Proposal to Enhance Financial Protections for Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers

Statement

United States Senators Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) today applauded the United States Senate's passage of the bipartisan Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senators introduced the bill in April.

"It is great to see Republicans and Democrats come together to stand for Gold Star families," said Senator McSally."Supporting families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice is the right thing to do and easing their financial burden is the least we can do."

"Military spouses dealing with the death or catastrophic disability of a loved one as the result of their service should have the ability to end leases without incurring high termination fees," said Senator Portman. "I'm glad this bipartisan bill was included in the Senate-passed NDAA today as it will provide much-needed relief for these families."

"Military families are middle class families who make incredible sacrifices in service to our country. We must do our part to make sure they have the resources and support they need," said Senator Warren. "I'm thankful that the Senate has chosen to advance our bipartisan legislation to strengthen financial protections for Gold Star spouses and spouses of injured servicemembers."

"Military spouses play a vital role in supporting our servicemembers and often handle signing a lease for a home or automobile when servicemembers receive orders to relocate," said Senator Tillis. "I am proud this bipartisan legislation that will provide military spouses with relief and financial protections to help them during an incredibly difficult time for their family was included in the NDAA."

Military families may relocate frequently or suddenly as the result of a servicemember's military orders, and these moves often involve entering into leases for a house, apartment, or other dwelling, or an automobile. If a servicemember dies or sustains a catastrophic injury or illness during military service, his or her spouse may be forced to pay off the remainder of that residential or automobile lease or face a penalty for breaking the lease.

The bipartisan Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to expand existing financial protections for military families' residential and car leases in the following ways:

· Allows the spouse of a servicemember who died while in military service to terminate a motor vehicle lease during the one-year period beginning on the date of the death of the servicemember, if that servicemember died while in military service or while performing full-time National Guard duty, active Guard and Reserve duty, or inactive-duty training.

· Allows the spouse of a servicemember who sustained a catastrophic injury or illness to terminate a residential lease AND a motor vehicle lease during the one-year period beginning on the date of the injury or illness of the servicemember, if that servicemember sustained the injury or illness while in military service or while performing full-time National Guard duty, active Guard and Reserve duty, or inactive-duty training.