23 February
2005
The Honorable Mike
DeWine
140
Dear Representative
DeWine:
On behalf of FRA, I extend
sincere gratitude for your interest in enhancing the benefits provided for
survivors of deceased members of the Armed Forces.
The Association is
particularly supportive of increasing the monthly payment of Dependency and
Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from $967 to $1,500. Many of the more than 1,400
service members have died serving our nation left behind young spouses with
small children. While there are a number of legislative proposals providing
enhancements to survivor benefits in the short term, such as increased death
gratuities, there has been little talk about providing long term compensation to
these families who have already sacrificed so much.
According to the Department
of Veterans Affairs, the purpose of DIC is to provide survivors and their
families with a monthly benefit to compensate for their loss. The base monthly
payment for DIC is $993 for a survivor with children. Surely, we can do better.
Our nation has a moral obligation to ensure those survivors and their families
are taken care of, and increasing the monthly DIC payment is a step in the right
direction.
FRA will be most pleased to
endorse an individual bill that enhances the survivor benefits for the families
of those men and women who died in service to our nation. The Association stands
ready to assist you and your staff in working toward the advancement of this
important initiative.
Sincerely,
JOSEPH L. BARNES
National Executive
Secretary
JLB:mss:jh