MCA Staff Writers
Presenting Up-to-Date Mesothelioma Topics
2 0 1 3Oct11
In just over a week since the Federal government has become officially shutdown, another, perhaps more, upsetting side effect has come to light. From October 1 onwards, the family of any member of the armed services who dies in the line of duty will not be able to collect the $100,000 so-called “death gratuity” usually provided by the government to cover travel costs, funeral arrangements and other associated bills. Thankfully, the Fisher House Foundation from Bethesda, MD has stepped up to cover the grants until the government can reimburse the foundation.
Though Congress managed to come together last week after the official shutdown to draft legislation to keep paying the military, the death benefit payout was left out. Some Congressional aides thought that with paying the military and other Department of Defense bills, the death benefit was automatically included. Upon review by the Pentagon, it became clear that the legislation could not cover the death benefit – a result from purse tightening or not.
Joe Davis, a spokesperson for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, calls the stoppage “just disgusting.” Seventeen service members have died since the government shutdown eight days ago. All of the families – including the five most recent casualties who died over the weekend – will not receive the payment.
According to Speaker of the House John Boehner, Congress is scrambling to draft legislation to reinstate the death benefit. It could be in front of the House as soon as Wednesday.
Suspension of the death gratuity is not the only side effect hurting our service members and veterans during the government shutdown. But what is even more devastating is that the services that the families of our fallen service members rely on have also been stopped. Lump sum payments – enough to cover housing payments for a year – have also been suspended to spouses and dependent children of our fallen soldiers.
Some veteran services are running despite the shutdown; most importantly, health services for veterans suffering health complications are still available. For soldiers suffering from disorders or diseases, like PTSD or mesothelioma cancer, health services are still available to treat our veterans with counceling services or surgeries and treatments needed. The United States Department of Veteran Affairs has released a guide to help veterans navigate what services are still available to them.
Regardless of personal political beliefs, the impacts of the government shutdown are far-reaching. Invaluable, often critical, services are stopped without further notice, while others are asked to work without pay or support. In a broader picture, our veterans and active duty service members deserve the support of our government, where many have made the ultimate sacrifice and others must carry the burdens of their duty for the rest of their lives.
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