Government Shutdown Stops Military Death Benefit

Floor Speech

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, one of the harsh impacts of the Republican government shutdown is the fact that military families of our fallen heroes will no longer receive survivor benefits. They have been suspended.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, 8,000 miles away in Afghanistan, four Army Rangers were killed and 30 others were wounded by a suicide bomber and an IED. That's why I urge the approval today of legislation on the floor to provide the death benefits to our fallen soldiers.

But I'd also like to salute a Tampa, Florida, foundation, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, that has stepped forward to fill the void and will provide four very generous grants to the families of our brave soldiers killed in action.

They typically provide scholarships and financial aid and counseling to the families of Special Operations soldiers, and I'd like to thank them: Retired Air Force Major Steve McLeary, Retired General Doug Brown, Retired Vice Admiral Joe Maguire, Melinda Scofield and Dahlia Munoz, and the entire board of directors, and the greater community of the Tampa Bay area that supports Special Operations Command and all of our brave heroes.

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