Shutdown outrage: Military death benefits denied to families of fallen troops

Our troops still have to fight and die, but Congress can't get its act together enough to even authorize a death benefit to help families cope in the immediate aftermath of a death. DESPICABLE....

"At least five families of U.S. military members killed during in Afghanistan over the weekend were given a double-whammy by federal officials: Not only have your loved ones died, but due to the government shutdown, you won’t receive a death benefit.
The benefit is $100,000 and is wired to family members of the killed military member within 36 hours of the death. The so-called “death gratuity” is aimed at paying for funeral costs and to help with those living expenses normally covered by the soldier’s paycheck.
PHOTOS: A salute to America's warriors on the front lines of the war on terror
They serve as a transition pay benefit until the military’s survivor benefits begin.
The $100,000 also helps military families fly to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, while the coffins carrying their loved ones are being unloaded
The Pentagon revealed the elimination of funeral pay, along with other impacts of the shutdown, in a press release.
“The department does not currently have the authority to pay death gratuities for the survivors of service members killed in action – typically a cash payment of $100,000 paid within three days of the death of a service member,” the release read.


Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/8/shutdown-leaves-families-killed-soldiers-no-funera/#ixzz2h9FG7u6I

While the politicians of both parties play their partisan posturing games.

The president has the authority to release the money immediatedly, so it's 100% up to him....

Jake92 wrote:

The president has the authority to release the money immediatedly, so it's 100% up to him....

   That would be called....'leadership' and it's been void for the past five years....On a daily basis the only thing growing at an alarming rate...contempt for the government....Yesterday...a rally is allowed for 'illegal aliens' on the mall in Washington that's closed and yet without the assistance of some in Congress WWII Veterans would have been denied being able to tour a memorial for them...Can't even begin to imagine the anguish/grief of the families of the fallen heroes and then to have this compounded by this arrogant act of the individual that's supposed to be the commander-in-chief that sent these heroes into harm's way...WE all should be asking....Is this even America anymore?....There's been very little HOPE and if this is the CHANGE....then we've become a nation with NO conscience...God Bless these fallen heroes and their families and know that there still are some Americans that CARE....