[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     INTRODUCTION OF THE HEROES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TERRY EVERETT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 26, 2005

  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to join with 18 of my 
colleagues, including the entire congressional delegation of Alabama, 
in introducing legislation aimed at honoring the sacrifices of our men 
and women in uniform by greatly enhancing military combat death 
benefits. My legislation is also needed to ensure that military 
families are properly compensated in the event of the loss of a loved 
one in combat.
  The nearly 170,000 American military personnel in harm's way in 
Afghanistan and Iraq are there to defend our nation's freedom and 
security. Their service is vital to the long term protection of our 
land and they must know that their government and fellow citizens are 
fully behind their efforts. I believe one of the best ways to 
demonstrate this support for our military is to provide them with the 
peace of mind that if they should lose their lives in combat their 
families will receive adequate death benefits.
  The need to improve military combat death benefits is not new to 
Congress. In 2003 and 2004, enhancements were made to these benefits as 
part of the annual Defense Authorization bills. For example, the 
military combat death benefit was increased from $6,000 to $12,000 and 
Congress directed the Pentagon to study the feasibility of increasing 
Servicemen's Group Life Insurance maximum coverage to $350,000 with the 
military covering the first $100,000 of insurance for service members 
who purchase the maximum benefit. However, that's simply not generous 
enough.
  I do not believe these benefits adequately compensate military 
families, nor do they send a strong enough message to our military 
personnel that their government will honor their sacrifice by providing 
proper benefits in the event of their death in combat.
  My bill, known as the Honoring Every Requirement of Exemplary Service 
(HEROES) Act, would increase the military gratuity death benefit from 
the present $12,000 to $100,000. Furthermore, it would also increase 
the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance maximum coverage from the current 
$250,000 to $400,000 with the first $150,000 in coverage guaranteed by 
the Department of Defense once a soldier is deployed into combat.
  What's more, the HEROES Act would make retroactive payments of 
$238,000 to the families of those military personnel who've already 
lost their lives in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. This amount is 
equal to the $88,000 increase in the death gratuity payment as well as 
the $150,000 insurance coverage benefit boost. These enhanced benefits 
would apply to military personnel losing their lives in combat as 
determined by the Secretary of Defense.
  In closing, I would urge quick adoption of this measure in order to 
give our military personnel and their families greater comfort as they 
are called upon to defend America.

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