Veterans During the Shutdown

In the first week of the shutdown, much of the media focused on veterans getting shut out of war memorials. (See video.) In the shutdown’s second week, things took a very serious tone when people began questioning how soon veterans’ benefits would be halted. Then came the first casualties of the shutdown on our nation’s servicemembers: The federal government began withholding “death gratuity,” 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. However, Congress passed the Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act (HJRes 91) on Oct. 10 to fund death gratuities and related survivor benefits for survivors of deceased military service members. 

Benefits Through Late October

VA has funds available to “ensure claims processing and payments in the compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation programs will continue through late October.” (Source: VA) According to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, more than $6 billion in benefits to about 5 million veterans and their families would be halted with an extended shutdown. About 3.8 million veterans will not receive disability compensation next month, and 315,000 veterans and 202,000 surviving spouses and dependents will see pension payments stopped. (See Shinseki’s testimony.) The VA closed its regional offices and furloughed 7,000 workers responsible for claims processing due to the government shutdown. The VA will also close operations for the Veterans Benefits Administration and GI Bill call centers. (Source: Military Times) As of this week, there were 725,165 pending benefits claims, with more than 418,000 of those pending longer than 125 days. (Read the VA’s shutdown contingency plan.)

Signed into Law: The Pay Our Military Act

The Pay Our Military Act was passed by Congress on the eve of the shutdown, and signed by President Obama. While it ensures that servicemembers are paid during a shutdown, it does not apply to veterans’ benefit payments.

• HR 3210 Pay Our Military Act: Making continuing appropriations for military pay in the event of a Government shutdown. (President signed it into law on 9/30.)

Pending Bills Related to Veterans

Several bills have been introduced that address veterans during a shutdown. Weigh in on these bills and POPVOX will deliver your message to Congress. (And we’ll keep updating this list, so keep coming back!)

• HJRes 91 Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act: 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. (House and Senate passed, 10/10.)
• HR 3287 Veterans Services Support Act: “to ensure that Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion can continue to work alongside VA employees at VA regional offices during the shutdown, providing invaluable assistance to the Nation’s veterans.”
• HR 3274 Fallen Heroes and Families Assistance Act: “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.”
• HJRes 72 Honoring our Promise to America’s Veterans Act: “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. The bill would have also funded the Veterans Benefits Administration at President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2014 requested operational level, ensuring VA claims processing efforts could continue at normal rates.” (House passed Oct. 3; hasn’t been considered by the Senate.)
• HR 3225 Save Our Veterans Act: Making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits in the event of a Government shutdown. 
• S 1564 Protecting Those Who Protected Us Act: making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits and services in the event of a Government shutdown. 
• HR 3152 Pay Our Veterans and Seniors First Act: 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. 
• HR 3214 Preserve our National Security Act: Making continuing appropriations for personnel critical to national security during a Government shutdown.