[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 142 (Friday, October 11, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SURVIVOR BENEFITS CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS 
                            RESOLUTION, 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 9, 2013

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.J. Res. 91.
  This past Sunday four of our brave soldiers were killed in 
Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. Those four included an Army nurse from 
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, an Army criminal investigator from the 5th 
Military Police Battalion in Vicenza, Italy, and two Army Rangers from 
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Benning, 
Georgia, which borders my Congressional District, and which I feel a 
deep commitment to.
  And earlier this week I was shocked and angered to learn that the 
Secretary of Defense and the President were withholding the Death 
Gratuity for the families of these fallen heroes.
  For those of you who do not know what that is, the Death Gratuity is 
a benefit payable to a designated beneficiary, in a lump sum of 
$100,000, for a death on active duty or inactive duty training, and 
Burial Benefits which provide up to $10,500 to survivors to cover 
expenses related to the burial of the service member.
  In order to prevent these kinds of delays in benefits, on September 
29th, with my full support, the House passed H.R. 3210, the Pay Our 
Military Act. On September 30th the bill was passed by the Senate and 
signed into law by President Obama.
  Among other things, that bill was to ensure that during the shut down 
there would be funds available to provide pay and allowances to members 
of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who are performing 
active service.
  The Congressional intent of the legislation was clear: to give the 
Department of Defense the authority to pay these very types benefits to 
the men and women of this great Nation who have sacrificed to preserve 
our freedoms. It is a shame that the President and Secretary of Defense 
are playing politics and not honoring the Congressional intent of the 
bill already signed into law.
  What is even more shameful is that as the Commander in Chief, 
President Obama is not honoring that role. As the head of our Nation's 
military, I find it incomprehensible that he has not ordered these 
benefits to be paid out no matter what. Congress has already approved 
these funds, but the buck stops with the President, literally. How can 
the leader of our military turn his back on those he swore to lead?
  It is for that reason I speak in support of H.J. Res. 91. This bill 
will ensure death gratuities and related survivor benefits will be paid 
out to those families who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our 
nation.
  I hope both sides of the aisle show the president today that he 
cannot play politics at the expense of our fallen service men and 
women, and their families, and give these brave soldiers the respect 
they deserve.

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