Durbin Seeks Benefits for Survivors of Service Members Killed in the Line of Duty
DURBIN SEEKS BENEFITS FOR SURVIVORS OF SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY
Sunday, January 30, 2005
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] -- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) this week introduced a bipartisan military benefits package that would help ensure that the needs of families of fallen service members are addressed.
Under the legislation, which Durbin sponsored with Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH), the surviving children and spouses of service members who are killed on active duty would receive an increased benefit at the time of the soldier's death, increased monthly survivors benefits, and would be eligible for expanded education benefits and health care coverage.
"Our nation should stand with family members who have suffered the ultimate loss - the life of a loved one," Durbin said. "They should not bear the added burden of financial uncertainty after a soldier's death. Nor should the amount of survivors' benefits be based on whether a soldier was killed in combat or training for combat. The loss to the family is exactly the same, and this legislation would ensure that the families in both circumstances are treated the same."
"More than 1,500 American service members have been killed in military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. This number includes 65 Illinoisans," said Durbin. "But even in peacetime, nearly 900 American service men and women die each year in accidents and other causes while serving on active duty. In an average year, 35 active duty soldiers from Illinois are lost in non-combat situations. The Durbin-DeWine plan will provide expanded protection to the families that our soldiers leave behind." More than 50 percent of America's men and women in uniform are married and about 50 percent of those families also have dependent children. Retroactive to October 2001, the DeWine-Durbin bill would cover the family members of service members killed while on active duty. The Durbin-DeWine bill would amend four benefit programs to improve the overall quality of life for survivors and dependent children:
Increases the tax-free death gratuity from the current amount of $12,420 to $100,000 plus $25,000 for each child.
Extends the dependent children's free health care coverage so that children are covered by TRICARE through age 21 - age 23 if a surviving child is enrolled in school.
Increases the monthly dependent survivor income payment from $993 to $1,500 for spouses and from $247 to $750 for each child.
Provides up to $80,000 in education assistance for surviving spouses and each child - roughly doubling the current amount and making the benefit more flexible.
The bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE), George Allen (R-VA), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Barack Obama (D-IL), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT).
http://durbin.senate.gov/releases.cfm