Shutdown stalls U.S. military death benefits payments
Reuters
2013-10-09
Views 47
Lawmakers are scrambling to make sense of the latest development in the government shutdown.
Death benefit payments to families of fallen soldiers have been suspended.
And it's taking a personal toll on five families who lost their loved ones in Afghanistan this past weekend.
Senator Dick Durbin says the benefits need to be restored.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) SENATOR DICK DURBIN, SAYING:
"And sadly, the support which we always give to these families is not there. It's not there. Customarily, within 24 to 36 hours, they are given a sum of money, an advance on the benefits that that soldier earned so that they can take care of funeral expenses and the obvious needs of their family. We can't do that because the government is shut down."
Shannon Collins is the mother of a U.S. Marine who died in Afghanistan.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) SHANNON COLLINS, SAYING:
"While that benefit may not be urgent for me, it's urgent for somebody, for the sacrifice that
Death benefit payments to families of fallen soldiers have been suspended.
And it's taking a personal toll on five families who lost their loved ones in Afghanistan this past weekend.
Senator Dick Durbin says the benefits need to be restored.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) SENATOR DICK DURBIN, SAYING:
"And sadly, the support which we always give to these families is not there. It's not there. Customarily, within 24 to 36 hours, they are given a sum of money, an advance on the benefits that that soldier earned so that they can take care of funeral expenses and the obvious needs of their family. We can't do that because the government is shut down."
Shannon Collins is the mother of a U.S. Marine who died in Afghanistan.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) SHANNON COLLINS, SAYING:
"While that benefit may not be urgent for me, it's urgent for somebody, for the sacrifice that
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