[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 59 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ON THE VETERANS' SURVIVING CHILDREN'S BENEFITS ACT

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                        HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2003

  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, with our nation at war, young men and women 
in uniform are placed in harm's way and risk losing their lives. Sadly, 
some have already made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe these brave 
individuals a great debt, and we also owe that debt to their families.
  The surviving spouses of military personnel who die in service and 
veterans who die as a result of service-connected disabilities become 
the sole caregivers for their children. They deserve the best 
assistance that our nation can provide. For this reason I am 
introducing the Veterans' Surviving Children's Benefits Act.
  In 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs completed a 
congressionally mandated evaluation of survivorship benefits paid to 
the families of men and women who have given their lives for their 
country. According to the results, a surviving spouse with dependent 
children needed to receive an additional $250 per month in Dependency 
and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). With the additional $250 per month, 
the benefits provided to a surviving spouse with children would be 
comparable to the benefits received by a surviving spouse who did not 
have children. The study found a $250 increase in monthly benefits was 
needed regardless of the number of children in the family.
  The Veterans' Surviving Children's Benefits Act would provide a $250 
monthly increase in survivor benefits recommended for surviving spouses 
with children. While no amount of money can ever compensate a child for 
the loss of a parent, I believe that we should assure that surviving 
spouses with children have their needs met to at least the same extent 
as surviving spouses without children.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in providing this small but necessary 
comfort to the surviving children of military personnel who have made 
the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

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