[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9781-9783]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   VETERANS OPPORTUNITIES ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JO ANN DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2001

  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support 
of H.R. 801, the Veterans' Opportunities Act of 2001. As a cosponsor of 
this legislation, I am proud to be able to say that the committee 
referred a bill that has practical and immediate effects for many 
veterans and their loved ones. This legislation comprehensively 
addresses many issues associated with veterans and their dependents.
  What I would like to speak about today is one section of this 
legislation that I believe will have an immediate and practical effect 
for the surviving families of many of our recently deceased veterans.
  As you may know, I recently introduced a bill, H.R. 1015, the SGLI 
Adjustment Act. The substantive language of this bill was incorporated 
by the committee directly into H.R. 801. This legislation will directly 
and immediately help many of the families and beneficiaries of those 
killed since October 1, 2000.
  I am extremely pleased and grateful the Veterans Committee included 
my legislative language in the final version of H.R. 801.
  Mr. Speaker, I know you are aware that our military has recently 
suffered numerous tragedies: the bombing of the USS Cole, the crash of 
an Osprey, a Blackhawk, a National Guard airplane, and the accidental 
bombing of our own troops in Kuwait. All of these accidents were 
unforeseen, and all of these accidents resulted in the tragic loss of 
life.
  Recently, on November 1st of last year, the President signed a bill 
increasing this maximum benefit to 250,000 dollars. Unfortunately for 
those recently affected families, this increase in coverage does not 
take effect until April 1st of this year.
  By incorporating the substantive language of my bill, we will 
retroactively grant this increase to those families who had opted for 
the maximum benefit and subsequently lost a loved one in the 
performance of their duty.
  Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not thank the committee and 
its staff for their hard work and dedication in seeing this bill 
brought

[[Page 9782]]

to the floor. In particular, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
New Jersey, Mr. Smith, and the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Hayworth, 
and the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Crenshaw, for ensuring that my 
legislation was attached to this bill in the form of a friendly 
amendment.

                                         Commonwealth of Virginia,


                                       Office of the Governor,

                                      Richmond, VA, April 4, 2001.
     Hon. Jo Ann Davis,
     U.S. Representative, 1st Congressional District of Virginia,
     Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman Davis: I would like to thank you for 
     your support and concern for the members of the 203rd Red 
     Horse Flight Virginia Air National Guard and their families 
     as we all struggled to cope with their tragic loss. I 
     appreciate your participation in the Memorial Service March 
     10th for our 18 Guardsmen who lost their lives while serving 
     their country.
       While only time will heal the wounds, I take some solace in 
     the knowledge that H.R. 1015 was, with your steadfast 
     support, passed overwhelmingly and the members of the 
     National Guard will enjoy increased benefits.
       Your thoughtfulness and consideration is much appreciated.
       Sincerely,
                                                 Gary K. Aronhalt,
                                       Secretary of Public Safety.

                                  ____
                                  

                                        Air Force Association,

                                    Arlington, VA, March 14, 2001.
     Hon. Jo Ann Davis,
     Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Ms. Davis: The Air Force Association applauds your 
     efforts to include those service members killed in the line 
     of duty and covered at the maximum limit of the 
     Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Program since 
     November 1, 2000 under the proposed increased limits for 
     SGLI.
       Your initiative will ensure that service-families mourning 
     these tragic losses will receive the same benefits as those 
     affected after the passage of the legislation.
       We look forward to working with you to enact this 
     legislation into law.
           Sincerely,

                                                John A. Shaud,

                                             General, USAF (Ret.).


         National Guard Association of the United States,
                                   Washington, DC, March 14, 2001.
     Hon.  Jo Ann Davis,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Davis: On behalf of the members of the 
     National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), I 
     wish to extend our support for H.R. 1015, legislation that 
     will provide for an increase in the amount of Servicemember's 
     Group Life Insurance (SGLI) paid to survivors of members who 
     died in the line of duty.
       With the increased level of operations for all members of 
     the Armed Services, there have been an unfortunate increasing 
     number of training accidents. This was all too evident when 
     21 members of the National Guard tragically lost their lives 
     on March 3rd, in a military airplane crash. These good men 
     died while serving their country, their state and their 
     community. The severity of this accident is a grim reminder 
     of the risks we ask of the members of the National Guard, 
     along with all men and women who serve in uniform.
       On November 1, 2000, the President signed into law S. 1402 
     that increased the maximum benefit for the SGLI from $200,000 
     to $250,000. However, implementation of the increase was 
     delayed until April 1, 2001. The legislation you introduced 
     will provide those service members who previously contracted 
     for the maximum benefit of SGLI and died in the line of duty 
     to receive the increased maximum amount of $250,000.
       The National Guard Association of the United States fully 
     supports your efforts and therefore I am proud to offer the 
     endorsement of the NGAUS for H.R. 1015.
           Respectfully,

                                         Richard C. Alexander,

                                      Major General, OHARNG (Ret),
                                               Executive Director.

                                  ____
                                  

         Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United 
           States of America,
                                  Alexandria, Va., March 16, 2001.
     Hon.  Jo Ann Davis,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Longworth House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Davis: Thank you for introducing 
     legislation to provide an increase in the amount of 
     Servicemember's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) paid to survivors 
     of members of the Armed Forces who died in the performance of 
     duty between November 1, 2000, and April 1, 2001.
       Recognizing those men and women whom made the ultimate 
     sacrifice, and ensuring that their family members are cared 
     for is of utmost importance to the NCOA.
       The NCOA strongly supports your proposed piece of 
     legislation. Accordingly, it will be our privilege to provide 
     testimony on behalf of H.R. 1015, or whatever other 
     assistance you may require.
           Sincerely,
                                               Alex J. Harrington,
                                  Director of Legislative Affairs.

                                  ____
                                  

                                 The Retired Officers Association,
                                   Alexandria, VA, March 16, 2001.
     Hon. Jo Ann Davis,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Davis: On behalf of the 390,000 members 
     of The Retired Officers Association (TROA), I wish to extend 
     our support for H.R. 1015, a bill to provide for an increase 
     in the amount of Servicemember's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) 
     paid to survivors of members of the Armed Forces who died in 
     the performance of duty between November 1, 2000, and April 
     1, 2001.
       Your legislation provides an important and timely 
     correction in the implementation of the recent increase in 
     SGLI coverage from $200,000 to $250,000. The legislation is 
     also consistent with action taken to increase SGLI after 
     operational accidents such as the Gander, Newfoundland 
     disaster. H.R. 1015 will ensure that those not covered at the 
     higher SGLI level during the period between passage and 
     implementation of the increase authorized under P.L. 106-419 
     will now be covered.
       With the increased level of operations for all members of 
     the Armed Services, tragic accidents are occurring more 
     frequently. From the USS Cole to the most recent crash of an 
     Air National Guard plane, our servicemen and women risk their 
     lives on a daily basis. The severity of these accidents serve 
     as a reminder that liberty is not procured without the 
     constant vigilance of those who freely give up theirs to 
     protect us.
       TROA greatly appreciates your leadership on this issue and 
     we offer our full endorsement of H. R. 1015, a bill that will 
     help surviving family members to meet critical family needs 
     following the tragic loss of their servicemembers in recent 
     terrorist attacks or training accidents.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael A. Nelson,
     President.
                                  ____



         Reserve Officers Association


                                         of the United States,

                                   Washington, DC, March 16, 2001.
     Hon. Jo Ann Davis,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Davis: On behalf of the 75,000 members 
     of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, 
     chartered by Congress in 1922 to support the development and 
     implementation of a military policy that will provide 
     adequate national defense for the United States, I want to 
     congratulate you for introducing HR 1015, legislation that 
     would provide for an increase in the amount of Servicemembers 
     Group Life Insurance (SIGLI) paid to the survivors of service 
     members who die in the line of duty. I want you to know that 
     the Reserve Officers Association fully supports your efforts 
     in this regard.
       Since the end of the Cold War we have witnessed a three-
     fold increase in the level of deployments of our Armed 
     Forces. Our men and women in uniform are increasingly called 
     upon to support contingency operations around the world, 
     operations that expose them to danger on a continual basis, 
     as the headlines daily remind us. Over the past several 
     years, members of the Reserve components have annually 
     provided more than 12,500,000 workdays of contributory 
     support to our Active component forces. Truly the level of 
     our military operations is remarkable. So, too, are our men 
     and women of the uniformed services. Your bill will help 
     recognize the value of these contributions and of the men and 
     women who make them.
       Again, let me thank you for sponsoring HR 1015. ROA 
     appreciates your efforts and is pleased to offer our full 
     support.
           Sincerely,
                                                Jayson L. Spiegel,
                                               Executive Director.

                                  ____
                                  

         Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United 
           States,
                                   Alexandria, VA, March 19, 2001.
     Hon. Jo Ann Davis,
     Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Davis: On behalf of the enlisted men 
     and women of the Army and Air National Guard, the Enlisted 
     Association of the National Guard of the United States 
     (EANGUS) wishes to thank you for introducing H.R. 1015, a 
     bill to increase the amount of Servicemember's Group Life 
     Insurance paid to survivors of servicemembers who died in the 
     performance of duty recently.
       Although an increase was signed into law last November, the 
     increase doesn't go into effect until April 1. Your bill 
     would cover those who died in the recent tragedies and ensure 
     that their survivors will receive the new maximum benefit.
       EANGUS fully supports this bill. Thank you for your efforts 
     on behalf of our uniformed men and women who serve their

[[Page 9783]]

     country and sometimes pay the ultimate price in that service.
           Working for America's Best!
                                       MSG Michael P. Cline (Ret),
                                               Executive Director.

                                  ____
                                  

                                                   March 16, 2001.
     Hon. Jo Ann Davis,
     U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Davis: On behalf of the members of the 
     National Order of Battlefield Commissions, I wish to extend 
     our support for H.R. 1015, a bill to provide for an increase 
     in the amount of Servicemember's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) 
     paid to survivors of members of the Armed Forces who died in 
     the performance of duty between October 1, 2000, and April 1, 
     2001.
       Your legislation provides an important and timely 
     correction in the implementation of the recent increase in 
     SGLI coverage from $200,000 to $250,000. The legislation is 
     also consistent with action taken to increase SGLI after 
     operational accidents such as the Gander, Newfoundland 
     disaster. H.R. 1015 will ensure that those not covered at the 
     higher SGLI level during the period between passage and 
     implementation of the increase authorized under P.L. 106-416 
     will now be covered.
       With the increased level of operations for all members of 
     the Armed Services, tragic accidents are occurring more 
     frequently. From the USS Cole to the most recent crash of an 
     Air National Guard plane, our servicemen and women risk their 
     lives on a daily basis. The severity of these incidents serve 
     as a reminder that liberty is not procured without the 
     constant vigilance of our servicemembers.
       The members of the National Order of Battlefield 
     Commissions greatly appreciate your leadership on this issue. 
     We offer our full endorsement of H.R. 1015, a bill that will 
     help surviving family members meet critical needs following 
     the tragic losses of their loved ones to recent terrorist 
     attacks or training accidents.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Robert C. Evans,
                                        Washington Representative.

                                  ____
                                  

                                      Veterans of Foreign Wars

                                         of the United States,

                                   Washington, DC, March 21, 2001.
     Hon. Jo Ann Davis,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman Davis:  The Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
     the United States strongly supports your bill, H.R. 1015, to 
     provide an increase in the amount of the Service Members' 
     Group Life Insurance (SGLI) paid to survivors of Armed 
     Forces' members who died in the line of duty since November 
     1, 2000 through April 1, 2001 from its presently authorized 
     amount of $200,000 to the maximum amount of $250,000. This 
     two million-member service organization believes this is the 
     equitable thing to do under present circumstances.
       It is an unfortunate fact that, even during peacetime, 
     military service members lose their lives while training for 
     wartime scenarios and are targets of international 
     terrorists. Your legislation is consistent with prior 
     legislation taken to increase the SGLI--after the operational 
     accident that resulted in deaths in the Gander, Newfoundland, 
     disaster. H.R. 1015 will retroactively extend the maximum 
     coverage five months, from November 2000 and carry it forward 
     to 1 April of this year, when P.L. 106-419 authorizes the new 
     maximum rate of insurance coverage. While it is impossible to 
     place a dollar value on anyone's life, the VFW believes that 
     the added cost of your proposal is absolutely miniscule when 
     considering the Department of Veterans Affairs' current 
     budget.
       Again, thank you for taking the initiative to correct a 
     small but very important gap in the life insurance program 
     our nation provides to the military community.
           Sincerely,
                                               Dennis C. Cullinan,
                           Director, National Legislative Service.

     

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