(WASHINGTON, DC) – The House approved a bill late Wednesday evening to increase the death gratuity to $100,000 for military personnel killed while on active duty. Congressman Dennis Moore (Democrat -- Kansas) and Congressman Spencer Bachus (Republican -- Alabama) first introduced legislation in September 2004 to honor our military personnel by increasing the benefit.

“By voting to increase the military death gratuity, the House has demonstrated its commitment to our military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said Moore. “While no amount of money could make up for the loss of a loved one, this increase will help ensure the families of those who have served with honor are properly taken care of.”

The increase in the death gratuity was included as an amendment to H.R. 1268, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Iraq and Afghanistan and Tsunami assistance. Under the bill, the military’s total maximum death benefits would increase to $500,000, including $400,000 in subsidized life insurance. The military currently subsidizes the underwriting of $250,000 in life insurance.

The Bachus-Moore bill, H.R. 292, is cosponsored by 236 Republicans and Democrats, including Congressman Jerry Moran (Republican – Kansas).

H.R. 292 calls for the military death gratuity to be increased from $12,000 to $100,000 and would be applied retroactively to all servicemen and women on active duty who have died since September 11, 2001. In its fiscal year 2006 budget request, the White House proposed increasing death benefits for soldiers killed since the October 2001 beginning of the war in Afghanistan, but the added benefits would cover only those killed in combat.

In the last Congress, Moore and Bachus garnered the support of 219 bipartisan cosponsors for similar legislation. The bill also was endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America.