50cal

Bill would ensure sole survivors get benefits




By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Aug 21, 2008 1141 EDT

A bill awaiting President Bush’s signature would provide retroactive benefits to about 55 service members who separated from the military because they were the sole surviving member of a family in which one or more military siblings were killed in action or severely injured.
Among the benefits is the receipt of separation pay even for those with fewer than six years of service, which normally is not allowed, and the ability to keep any bonus pay even if they do not serve for their full military obligation.
Sole survivors also would be eligible for veterans’ education benefits, home loans, job training and unemployment compensation; military exchange and commissary privileges for up to two years after separation; and transitional health insurance.
Congress gave final approval to the bill Aug. 1 but it has not yet been delivered to the White House because lawmakers passed a flood of legislation just before beginning their summer recess.
The bill, HR 6580, makes the changes retroactive to anyone who has left the service under sole survivor policies since Sept. 11, 2001. The Congressional Budget Office, in an analysis of the bill dated Aug. 15 but released Aug. 20, said the bill is expected to apply to fewer than 20 newly separating people each year in addition to the 55 getting retroactive benefits.
Called the Hubbard Act, the bill is named for an Iraq war veteran, Jason Hubbard, who took a sole survivor discharge from the Army several months short of completing a three-year enlistment after two brothers, Jared and Nathan, died.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., one of many co-sponsors of the Hubbard Act, said the bill is not providing any extra favors to survivors, just ensuring they don’t suffer even more by being denied separation benefits.
“America’s sole survivors, such as Jason Hubbard, have served this nation honorably and suffered deep family tragedies,” she said in a statement. “It’s simply wrong to deny them separation benefits.”

__________________


"Sweat dries, blood clots, bones heal. Suck it up. Be a Marine"

Ndnsoldierboy

This is a good bill...hope it gets signed...for me, I'm an only son, and no other family in the military but me.

__________________

Annie Fawn

I thought there was already a bill like that. I thought it was passed after the 5 Sullivan brothers were all killed in action after WW2. If I remember right only 1 of the Sullivans had a child, a son. All of the brothers were on the same ship in the Navy and died on the same day in combat.
Here is a link telling about them
The Sullivan Brothers

__________________
Courage is just fear that has said it's prayers.

Ndnsoldierboy

Having been in both the Marines and Army, I have seen twins serve in the same Battalion. Infantry units. And Brothers who aren't twins serve in the same unit as well.

__________________

50cal

when I was in S.E.R.E. I met a set of twin brothers who were serving to be part of a fixed wing flight crew together...........

__________________


"Sweat dries, blood clots, bones heal. Suck it up. Be a Marine"