[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8192-H8193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN ACT
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 2794) to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase
automatic maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life
Insurance program and the Veterans' Group Life Insurance program, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2794
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Families of the
Fallen Act''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN AUTOMATIC MAXIMUM COVERAGE UNDER
SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE AND
VETERANS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE.
(a) In General.--Section 1967(a)(3)(A)(i) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``$400,000'' and
inserting ``$500,000''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
shall take effect on the later of--
(1) the date that is 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act; or
(2) the date on which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
determines that--
(A) the amount for which a member will be insured pursuant
to the amendment made by subsection (a) and the premiums for
such amount are administratively and actuarially sound for
the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program under
subchapter III of chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code,
and the Veterans' Group Life Insurance program under section
1977 of such title; and
(B) the increase in such amount carried out pursuant to the
amendment will not result in such programs operating at a
loss.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on S. 2794.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, life insurance is designed to offer protection from
loss and serves as a death benefit. For a veteran or servicemember,
VA's Veterans' Group Life Insurance offers security and confidence that
loved ones will be covered and made financially whole in the event a
source of income is lost.
While no amount of money can replace the life of a beloved family
member, VA's Servicemembers' and Veterans' Group Life Insurance exists
to provide an affordable option to provide a fiscal shield for
survivors.
Neither insurance program has experienced a coverage limit increase
since 2005. This bill increases the maximum amount of coverage for
Servicemembers' and Veterans' Group Life Insurance by $100,000, which
means expanded coverage of up to $500,000 for each option.
Madam Speaker, I support this bill, I urge all of my colleagues to do
the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2794, the Supporting
Families of the Fallen Act.
I thank Senator Tuberville and Congressman Roy for leading this
effort in the Senate and the House, respectively.
This bill makes much-needed updates to the coverage amounts for the
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and the Veterans' Group Life
Insurance program.
Specifically, this bill would allow VA to raise the max payment for
both programs from $400,000 to $500,000. An additional $100,000 would
make it easier for surviving spouses to keep a roof over their family's
head and food on the table following the loss of their loved one.
As many of you know, VA's life insurance programs may be the only
affordable option available to servicemembers and veterans. This is
because some veterans may not be eligible for private life insurance
due to the added risk of military service or because they have a
service-connected disability, like PTSD or cancer.
When we send our military into harm's way, VA insurance programs
provide them and their families with financial security. However, the
max rate of $400,000, which was established in 2005, does not meet the
needs of today's survivors.
Since 2005, American families have seen the cost of living
continuously rise. This is especially true right now due to historic
inflation under the Biden administration.
[[Page H8193]]
This bill would provide families with insurance coverage that will
better meet their needs. S. 2794 builds on our Nation's promises to
care for the families of those lost in service to our country.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I am prepared
to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Roy), my good friend.
Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of my bill,
which in this case is the S version--the Senate version--that was
introduced by Senator Tuberville from Alabama, S. 2794, the Supporting
Families of the Fallen Act.
The ranking member just articulated why this legislation is
important. I think one of the things that we have to remember is the
extent to which our men and women in uniform have to keep up and keep
pace with inflation, and we thought this was important.
I had a constituent in my district who raised this issue. I sat down
with that constituent and then met with a bunch of other constituents
who were running into the same problem. I talked to a number of my
veteran colleagues, and we believed that this was an important
solution.
As many know, I am not one to want to put forward legislation that
isn't paid for. This bill, for the most part, pays for itself with the
slight exception of Active Duty combat individuals. I believe that is
an exception worth making when we talk about things that are not paid
for.
It is straightforward. It simply increases the SGLI and VGLI maximum
coverage from $400,000 to $500,000 so that servicemembers and veterans
can customize the coverage amount that they need. I think it is a
commonsense solution. It is bipartisan and it is bicameral.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the chairman and the ranking member for
their support.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank all the folks that came together
for this bill, and I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S.
2794, which upon passage today will be sent on to the President's desk
for signature.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 2794.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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