[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 165 (Thursday, November 17, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. Cardin, and Mr. Warner):
  S. 3473. A bill to increase outdated death gratuities and funeral 
allowances for Federal civilian employees killed in the line of duty, 
to expand the scope of eligible beneficiaries, to codify tax treatment, 
to change offset requirements, to harmonize death gratuities across 
Federal agencies, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Death 
Gratuities Equity Act of 2016. I am joined by Senators Cardin and 
Warner in support of this bill.
  Congress required the Office of Personnel Management to study and 
report back on death gratuities and funeral expenses given to families 
of Federal employees killed in the line of duty. OPM provided its 
report in 2012, and what it found deeply disturbed me. Across the board 
the numbers were wildly different. Some families would get a $10,000 
death gratuity with $800 for funeral expenses. Those funeral expenses 
were then deducted from the lump sum death gratuity. The $800 allotment 
for funeral expenses had not been updated in 50 years, and the $10,000 
amount has not been updated in 20 years.
  This report really struck a nerve with me. If you are working hard 
every day for your country and you are killed in doing that duty, your 
country should do all it can to thank you. I think that's a pretty 
reasonable request. So I worked with OPM and the administration to 
create this legislation here today.
  My home State of Maryland has one of the highest numbers of Federal 
employees. Marylanders are called to service, and we proudly represent 
team USA at home and around the world. In 1998, when Al Qaeda bombed 
the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, killing twelve Americans. Maryland 
lost two of its own that day, Julian Bartley Sr. and his son, Jay. 
Since then, I have fought tooth and nail for his family and all the 
families who lose loved ones while serving America. We were able to 
finally get them the compensation they deserved in the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2014.
  But families shouldn't have to worry about whether or not Congress 
will take action, and they shouldn't have to fight for years on end to 
recognize the sacrifice made by their loved ones. We need to recognize 
that sacrifice now and secure it for the future. The families of all 
Federal employees across the country need to know that we have their 
backs should the worst come to pass.
  This bill does five things. First, it creates a standard minimum 
payment of $100,000 across all departments for any federal civilian 
employee killed in the line of duty. Second, it gives up to $8,800 for 
funeral expenses, and those expenses are in addition to the death 
gratuity, not taken away from it. Third, it makes it the law that these 
death and funeral gratuities cannot be taxed. Fourth, it ties these 
amounts to an automatic cost-of-living adjustment, so that we don't 
have to do this again in the future. And fifth, it now covers all 
federal employees, not just those killed abroad.
  This bill also now covers more kinds of Federal service employees who 
are eligible for death gratuities and funeral expenses. Brave people 
like firefighters, dedicated post office employees, diligent census 
workers, and bright young stars like interns, Job Corps students, and 
Peace Corps volunteers. These people and their families would all be 
covered and protected under this bill.
  I am very pleased with this plan to standardize civilian death 
gratuities. There's been too much disparity across departments for too 
long. Federal employees who are killed in the line of duty deserve to 
be recognized by their government for their sacrifice. Their families 
deserve certainty and a uniform policy they can rely on if the worst 
should happen to their loved ones. These hardworking employees are 
wearing the USA team jersey every day. This bill lets them know the 
government is on their side, that their service is valued, and that 
everyone is equal under the law.
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