Benefits cover funeral costs.

President Obama signed a bill passed in the Senate that reinstates military death benefits for the families of fallen soldiers. Although Congress had passed a law to pay the military during the shutdown, it did not address death payments—usually around $100,000 to cover costs of the funeral and related expenses. A charity, the Fisher House Foundation, offered to cover the payments and be reimbursed after the shutdown ends, but both Republicans and Democrats agreed that the government should step in. Twenty-nine members of the military have been killed since the shutdown began.