Capt Hank
02-04-2005, 15:21
** Senate Panels Examine Survivor Benefits
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) each held hearings this week to explore what more should be done for survivors of members killed on active duty.
On Tuesday, the SASC heard testimony from the Service Vice Chiefs of Staff, specifically concerning the provisions of Sen. Jeff Sessions' (R-AL) S. 77, which would raise the death gratuity from the current $12,420 to $100,000 for servicemembers killed in combat and increase the maximum Servicemember's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage to $400,000 (vs. the present $250,000). Sessions' bill would have the government automatically pay the premium on $150,000 of SGLI for members assigned in a combat zone. It would make the changes retroactive to Oct. 7, 2001 - the official start date of the war on terrorism. (Note: The government already provided substantial payments to survivors of all people killed in the 9/11 attacks, including military casualties.)
Witnesses included DoD's personnel chief, Dr. David Chu, and the Service Vice Chiefs of Staff. Dr. Chu endorsed Sen. Sessions' bill, but the Vice Chiefs all said they favored the increased death gratuity for all members killed on active duty. They expressed concern about the difficulties and propriety of trying to assign different benefit values for military deaths depending on whether or not the death occurred in a specific geographic area.
In a Tuesday CNN interview, MOAA president Vadm. Norb Ryan (USN-Ret.) supported the Vice Chiefs' position, saying, "The death gratuity ought to cover all of our men and women in uniform, because they're serving in lots of other dangerous places besides Iraq."
In a related discussion, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) noted that the reduction of military SBP annuities by the amount of any payment from the VA for service-caused deaths remains a "glaring unfairness" and that his new bill, S. 185, would end that offset. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) added that reducing the SBP entitlement for survivors by the amount of DIC is a "huge issue" and also has introduced a bill (S. 11) that would end that practice.
SASC Chairman John Warner (R-VA) and Sen. Levin promised quick action on the death benefits issue and called for DoD to submit proposed language in time for consideration with the Administration's coming supplemental authorization request for Iraq.
At Thursday's SVAC hearing, Chairman Larry Craig (R-ID) and Ranking Minority Member Daniel Akaka (D-HI) noted that Congress must ensure the nation fulfills its obligations to military survivors.
Powerful testimony came from two spouses whose husbands were killed in the war on terror. The spouses and a National Military Family Association (NMFA) representative testified that the SBP-DIC offset is unfair and should be repealed.
A second panel of VA, Defense, and Social Security Administration witnesses discussed what is being done now to speed benefits to survivors. During questioning, it became clear that surviving spouses have encountered numerous problems in delivery of information and assistance. The committee members made it clear to Defense witnesses that they expect improvements.
Chairman Craig closed the hearing by stating his personal belief that death benefits should be the same for all military survivors.
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) each held hearings this week to explore what more should be done for survivors of members killed on active duty.
On Tuesday, the SASC heard testimony from the Service Vice Chiefs of Staff, specifically concerning the provisions of Sen. Jeff Sessions' (R-AL) S. 77, which would raise the death gratuity from the current $12,420 to $100,000 for servicemembers killed in combat and increase the maximum Servicemember's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage to $400,000 (vs. the present $250,000). Sessions' bill would have the government automatically pay the premium on $150,000 of SGLI for members assigned in a combat zone. It would make the changes retroactive to Oct. 7, 2001 - the official start date of the war on terrorism. (Note: The government already provided substantial payments to survivors of all people killed in the 9/11 attacks, including military casualties.)
Witnesses included DoD's personnel chief, Dr. David Chu, and the Service Vice Chiefs of Staff. Dr. Chu endorsed Sen. Sessions' bill, but the Vice Chiefs all said they favored the increased death gratuity for all members killed on active duty. They expressed concern about the difficulties and propriety of trying to assign different benefit values for military deaths depending on whether or not the death occurred in a specific geographic area.
In a Tuesday CNN interview, MOAA president Vadm. Norb Ryan (USN-Ret.) supported the Vice Chiefs' position, saying, "The death gratuity ought to cover all of our men and women in uniform, because they're serving in lots of other dangerous places besides Iraq."
In a related discussion, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) noted that the reduction of military SBP annuities by the amount of any payment from the VA for service-caused deaths remains a "glaring unfairness" and that his new bill, S. 185, would end that offset. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) added that reducing the SBP entitlement for survivors by the amount of DIC is a "huge issue" and also has introduced a bill (S. 11) that would end that practice.
SASC Chairman John Warner (R-VA) and Sen. Levin promised quick action on the death benefits issue and called for DoD to submit proposed language in time for consideration with the Administration's coming supplemental authorization request for Iraq.
At Thursday's SVAC hearing, Chairman Larry Craig (R-ID) and Ranking Minority Member Daniel Akaka (D-HI) noted that Congress must ensure the nation fulfills its obligations to military survivors.
Powerful testimony came from two spouses whose husbands were killed in the war on terror. The spouses and a National Military Family Association (NMFA) representative testified that the SBP-DIC offset is unfair and should be repealed.
A second panel of VA, Defense, and Social Security Administration witnesses discussed what is being done now to speed benefits to survivors. During questioning, it became clear that surviving spouses have encountered numerous problems in delivery of information and assistance. The committee members made it clear to Defense witnesses that they expect improvements.
Chairman Craig closed the hearing by stating his personal belief that death benefits should be the same for all military survivors.