We Should be United in the Need to do Right by our Military Families

Today I went to the Senate Floor to call for unanimous support for H.J. Res. 91 to immediately restore military death benefits to the families of fallen service members, including assistance with unforeseen expenses such as flights and funeral arrangements. The legislation was approved by the House of Representatives earlier today, 425-0. A video of these remarks can be viewed below.

The Pentagon has been denying death benefits to the families of fallen soldiers, which would help them afford flights to Dover Air Force Base to receive the remains of their loved ones and pay for funeral expenses.

We’ve asked repeatedly for the President to negotiate with us to end the government shutdown. To date, he has dug in politically and refused to come to the table. Now the impacts of his shutdown are being felt in a very real and troubling way—hitting the families of America’s heroes at the hardest time possible.

There may be differences in opinion in this chamber over the fiscal direction of this country, but we should be united in the need to do right by our military families. The way they have been treated is outrageous and unacceptable and must be rectified immediately.