[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 23 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2029-S2030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SALAZAR:
  S. 523. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to rename the 
death gratuity payable for deaths of members of the Armed Forces as 
fallen hero compensation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a simple piece of 
legislation. The idea underlying this bill is

[[Page S2030]]

simple: words matter. How we characterize what we do sends a message, 
and nowhere is that more clear than in the question of survivor 
benefits for survivors of military fatalities.
  The Senate this year is considering major increases in survivor 
benefits for military families. That is as it should be, and I am proud 
to support two specific proposals to increase that assistance.
  We have an historic opportunity to raise both the direct DoD 
assistance and the life insurance payouts to families from $12,420 to 
$100,000 and to provide an extra $150,000 in life insurance payouts.
  We also have an opportunity to allow full concurrent receipt of the 
DoD's Survivor Benefit Plan and the VA's Dependency & Indemnity 
Compensation.
  We also have the opportunity to improve the help that military 
survivors get in navigating the bureaucracies of the VA and the DoD to 
get the benefits they deserve.
  And finally we have the opportunity to protect military families from 
predatory life insurance companies. All of these reforms are needed, 
and all are within our reach this year.
  As I studied this issue, I was struck by the term ``Death Gratuity.'' 
That is the name for the assistance that taxpayers make available to 
military survivors. The term gratuity means gift.
  I believe that not one of the widows, widowers, or children left 
behind think of that money as a gift. These families and these heroes 
are the ones who have given the gift to us. They are the ones who have 
given the ultimate sacrifice.
  I know that the name of the assistance is not as important as the 
assistance itself, but I am sure that hearing the term ``gratuity'' is 
a bitter pill for survivors who have just received the worst news of 
their lives.
  I for one refuse the term ``Death Gratuity,'' and I am introducing 
legislation today to change it to ``Fallen Hero Compensation.''
  This is a simple change, but it more properly reflects the sacrifices 
military survivors have made and more properly expresses the gratitude 
and dignity we owe these families.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this legislation be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 523

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. RENAMING OF DEATH GRATUITY PAYABLE FOR DEATHS OF 
                   MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AS FALLEN HERO 
                   COMPENSATION.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 10, 
     United States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) In section 1475(a), by striking ``have a death gratuity 
     paid'' and inserting ``have fallen hero compensation paid''.
       (2) In section 1476(a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``a death gratuity'' and 
     inserting ``fallen hero compensation''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``A death gratuity'' and 
     inserting ``Fallen hero compensation''.
       (3) In section 1477(a), by striking ``A death gratuity'' 
     and inserting ``Fallen hero compensation''.
       (4) In section 1478(a), by striking ``The death gratuity'' 
     and inserting ``The amount of fallen hero compensation''.
       (5) In section 1479(1), by striking ``the death gratuity'' 
     and inserting ``fallen hero compensation''.
       (6) In section 1489--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``a gratuity'' in the 
     matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting ``fallen hero 
     compensation''; and
       (B) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ``or other 
     assistance'' after ``lesser death gratuity''.
       (b) Clerical Amendments.--(1) Such subchapter is further 
     amended by striking ``Death gratuity:'' each place it appears 
     in the heading of sections 1475 through 1480 and 1489 and 
     inserting ``Fallen hero compensation:''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such 
     subchapter is amended by striking ``Death gratuity:'' in the 
     items relating to sections 1474 through 1480 and 1489 and 
     inserting ``Fallen hero compensation:''.
       (c) General References.--Any reference to a death gratuity 
     payable under subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 10, United 
     States Code, in any law, regulation, document, paper, or 
     other record of the United States shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to fallen hero compensation payable under such 
     subchapter, as amended by this section.
                                 ______