« Supplied To Survive | Main | Professor Flunks Pro-US Student »
The HEROES ACT - Support The Survivors
I've received many, many emails about some recent legislation that's in the works. The indomitable Bill Faith has been all over the issue of survivor benefits, and it appears that the Main Stream Media has not.
First, let's take a look at survivor benefits for those in uniform who are killed in the line of duty:
1. Servicemen Group Life Insurance (SGLI) pays $250,000 to the next of kin upon the death of a military member while on active duty.
2. Additionally, when a service member is killed, the service member's next of kin receives a death gratuity of $12,000 (that's right, 12K).
3. The service member's spouse may also qualify for the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) which pays 55 percent of what the service member would have made at retirement until the spouse is 62 or until the spouse is married. Note that retirement tends to be between 40 and 55 percent of pay (accrued at the rate of 2 to 2.5% per year until retiring). You don't have to be a math whiz to figure out that 55% of 40% is not much to live on.
Anyone think that the benefits are acceptable?
It seems that Senators Joe Lieberman (D - Conn.) and Jeff Sessions (R - Ala.) are attempting to increase the survivor benefits.
The Senators would like to raise the SGLI from .$250,000 to $400,000 and the death gratuity from $12,000 to $100,000. The SBP would remain the same at 55%.
The bill, Honoring Every Requirement of Exemplary Service (HEROES) Act, would be retroactive for those killed during OEF, and all iterations of OIF.
Senators Lieberman and Sessions will introduce this legislation in one week on January 24th. Bill, the Sergeant Major and I need your help, your voices, to get this legislation passed quickly.
Contact your Senators first as they will see the legislation first. And contact your Congressional Representative. This site makes it easy to get their contact information.
Be sure to emphasize that you fully support the HEROES Act and expect them to do the same (and you expect them to pass the bill quickly). You might want to throw in some information about the pitiful level of financial support our military receives for the job that they do - but that's up to you.
Thanks!!!
January 18, 2005 • Permalink
Categories and Tags:
Military
• Technorati Links
Technorati Tags:
Comments
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341bfadb53ef00d834584c5e69e2
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The HEROES ACT - Support The Survivors:
» I haven't forgotten, Briana -- Updated 2005.01.18.03:35 from Small Town Veteran
I made you a promise, young lady, and I'm not going to forget about it. ... This post will remain at the top of my blog, .... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2005 4:12:27 AM
» HEROS Act from MuD & PHuD
Blackfive informs us that the HEROS Act is going to be up for a vote shortly. The Act aims to increase benefits paid to the next of kin of Armed Service members killed in the line of duty:
The Senators would like to raise the SGLI from .$250,000... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2005 7:13:28 AM
» What's Going On from A Collection of Thoughts
I haven't done this in a while, let's take a spin through the 'sphere and see what's going on: Tony shares one of his favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes. Michael Jericho, that Hot Aussie, explains why the Fox Network... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2005 8:49:47 AM
» What's Going On from A Collection of Thoughts
I haven't done this in a while, let's take a spin through the 'sphere and see what's going on: Tony shares one of his favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes. Michael Jericho, that Hot Aussie, explains why the Fox Network... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2005 8:52:24 AM
» PAYING MORE THAN LIP SERVICE TO THE TROOPS from Michelle Malkin
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) are co-sponsoring the "HEROES Act"--a bill to greatly expand death benefits for America’s military personnel and their families. Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) is sponsoring the House version. I... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2005 10:13:19 AM
» The HEROES Act from Eric's Random Musings
Joe Lieberman (D - Conn.) and Jeff Sessions (R - Ala.) are co-sponsoring a bill, the HEROES (Honoring Every Requirement of Exemplary Service) Act, to improve benefits for the families of service members who are killed serving their country. Key provi... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2005 1:04:56 PM
» Call your Senators and congressperson.... from Media Lies
....NOW! This bill needs to pass quickly, and those who oppose it should be chastised severely by their constituents. I wrote about this last week when I praised Joe Lieberman for introducing the bill. Now it's time to exercise your duty as a citizen... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2005 1:41:05 PM
» The Heroes Act from Stryker Brigade News
Blackfive has some very important information regarding a piece of legislation that was recently introduced in Congress. The HEROES Act would increase survivor benefits for the families of those killed in Operations Iraqi & Enduring Freedom.... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2005 4:37:23 PM
» support the families of those who gave all from [--! Dalek Weblog --]
From time to time, the elected ones here in AL get their act together and so something good.
Such an event is happening now. Alabama Senator Jeff Sa> is co-sponsoring a bill with Senator Joseph Liberman that would dramatically increase the combat d... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 18, 2005 11:18:02 PM
» Being Fair from fredschoeneman.com
I don't begrudge the families of the World Trade Center victims, though I have questions about the way it was distributed. I would have preferred to see the highest paid bond-trader get as much money as the lowest paid janitor,... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 19, 2005 6:25:30 PM
» Some Real Troop Support from Much of a Which of a Wind
Bill Faith, SmallTownVeteran, and Blackfive have some important information up about new legislation being introduced in the House and Senate - the HEROES act. Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Ala introduced the legislation to increase survivor benefits to t... [Read More]
Tracked on Feb 8, 2005 7:35:01 PM
» H.E.R.O.E.S. from Tammi's World
REMINDER: Have you contacted your Senators about the HEROES legislation being presented Jan. 24th to the Senate? Thats the legislation that will increase the survivor benefits for our Military families - it's the right thing to do. Senator Sessions was... [Read More]
Tracked on Jul 12, 2005 8:17:12 PM
» Too Important Not To Point Out from Tammi's World
Blackfive has a post up about HEROS - a piece of legislation that will be introduced on January 24th. It is being sponsored by Senators Lieberman and Sessions. This is about increasing the survivor benefits for those who are killed... [Read More]
Tracked on Nov 11, 2005 9:40:34 PM
