Sen. Coons Ensures That A Potential Future Government Shutdown Won't Delay Military Death Benefits For Families Of Fallen Servicemembers

Press Release

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), the first Delaware Senator in more than four decades to serve on the critical Appropriations Committee, secured funding in the annual Defense Appropriations bill for the continuation of military death benefits in event of a government shutdown in 2020. The legislation passed out of the Appropriations Committee and is now ready for debate by the full Senate.

"We have a duty as Americans to support those who serve and their families," said Senator Coons. "In the words of President Lincoln, we must meet our sacred commitment to those "who have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.' Congress must do all it can to avoid a future government shutdown, but should take precautions to protect servicemembers and their loved ones in a worst-case scenario. I consider this an important first step towards resolving the issue permanently and ensuring these benefits are never subject to Congressional inaction."

Families of U.S. servicemembers killed in action during the government shutdowns in 2013 and 2018 were initially denied military death benefits. The longstanding purpose of the military death benefit payment is to assist families of deceased servicemembers in meeting their financial needs during the period immediately following a servicemember's death and before other survivor benefits become available.

The provision in the Defense Appropriations bill is based on S.2430, the Families of Fallen Servicemembers First Act, which Senator Coons introduced in February 2018.

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