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Protecting Families of Fallen Service Members N orthern Virginians know that there are no winners in a government shutdown. Federal workers, and in many instances, federal contractors, are forced to stay home. Critical services, such as processing veterans’ benefits, social security and Medicare claims, are suspended. And, sadly, we learned in 2013, families of our fallen heroes are also affected by government shutdowns. When a military family loses a loved one serving on active duty, the family is entitled to a lump sum payment that constitutes a small and partial measure of our nation’s gratitude for that service member’s ultimate sacrifice. The longstanding purpose of the federal death benefit is to assist families of deceased service members in meeting their financial needs during the period immediately following a service member’s death and before other survivor benefits become available. These payments are delivered within three days of a service member’s death so families do not have their grief compounded by worrying
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BY GERRY CONNOLLY
about financial matters, including the immediate expenses of flying to meet their loved one’s remains at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware or arranging funeral and burial services. However, during a government shutdown, the Department of Defense cannot make these payments. This is unconscionable. It is estimated that more than 30 military families lost a loved one during the 2013 and 2018 shutdowns. Instead of receiving the support they deserved during a period of mourning and immense pain, the families were denied a financial lifeline long promised to them. This system was not working for our military families, and we needed to fix it.
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Following the 16day federal government shutdown in 2013, I, along with Republican Congressman Tom Rooney, introduced the Families of Fallen Service Members First Act. Our bill provides for the payment of military death gratuities in the event of a lapse in federal appropriations. I am pleased to report that in September the Families of Fallen Service Members First Act was signed into law by the president. This would not have been possible without the support of our military and veterans’ service organizations that helped us secure this important reform. Groups like the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Vietnam
Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Wounded Warrior Project were instrumental in this success. The military death gratuity payment is more than just a financial transaction with a family in need. It is part of our sacred compact we have with our men and women in uniform and their families. These heroes should know that if they do not return home from a deployment, their families will receive the benefits they have earned through their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States. No grieving family should go without this small but very important measure of our country’s gratitude and recognition of their loved one’s ultimate sacrifice. I’m proud Congress was able to finally right this wrong and keep our promise to these heroes. Congressman Gerry Connolly represents Virginia’s 11th District, which includes Reston. A former chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, he serves on both the Oversight and Government Reform and Foreign Affairs Committees.