The Senate voted to reinstate military death benefits for the families of fallen soldiers, a day after the House passed the measure, and is now on its way to President Obama. 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 the government should step in. Twenty-nine members of the military have been killed since the shutdown began. Paying for their funerals is the least we can do.
Read it at Associated PressArchive
Military Death Pay to be Reinstated
SHUTDOWN