Veterans' Benefits During the Shutdown
The VA says it has funds available to "ensure claims processing and payments in the compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation programs will continue through late October." About 3.8 million veterans will not receive disability compensation next month if the partial government shutdown continues, and 315,000 veterans and 202,000 surviving spouses and dependents will see pension payments stopped.
Already, "death gratuity" payments have stopped (the $100,000 payment normally wired to relatives of fallen soldiers within three days to help with funeral costs and travel of Dover Air Force base). And yesterday, the VA closed (temporarily) its regional offices and furloughed 7,000 workers responsible for claims processing due to the government shutdown. (Learn more.)
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki will be testifying before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs this morning on the effect of the government shutdown on veterans' benefits. In the meantime, we hope you share your voice on these related bills. We'll deliver your message to your lawmakers. (Learn how POPVOX works.)
Bills Related to Veterans During the Shutdown
1) -- Fallen Heroes and Families Assistance Act (HR 3274): "would require that the military also pay death benefits, reimbursement for funeral expenses and travel, survivors' basic housing allowance and other expenses incurred because of the death of a service member." - https://www.popvox.com/bills/
2) -- Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act (HJRes 91): Making continuing appropriations for death gratuities and related survivor benefits for survivors of deceased military service members of the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2014. https://www.popvox.com/bills/
3) -- Honoring our Promise to America's Veterans Act (HJRes 72): "would have ensured that veterans in receipt of VA disability compensation, pension, GI Bill, and other critical benefits could continue to receive those benefits in the event of a prolonged government shutdown." (House passed Oct. 3.) - https://www.popvox.com/bills/
4) -- Save Our Veterans Act (HR 3225): Making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits in the event of a Government shutdown. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/
5) -- Protecting Those Who Protected Us Act (S 1564): making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits and services in the event of a Government shutdown. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/
6) -- Pay Our Veterans and Seniors First Act (HR 3152): To prohibit Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and the head of any Executive department from receiving pay for any period in which there is a Government shutdown and to provide for payments to seniors, military and veterans during a Government shutdown. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/
Link to this list online: http://www.popvox.com/blog/
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