An article on knoxnews.com should cause us all grave concern for our veterans.
Contrary to the initial reports by both Congress and the Obama administration, it appears the current federal government shutdown will halt disability compensation to approximately 3.8 million veterans if the shutdown continues into late October. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki also estimates that 315,000 veterans and 202,000 surviving spouses and dependents will see pension payments stopped. In all, more than $6 billion in payments to more than 5 million beneficiaries would be discontinued with an extended shutdown.
It seems the House has passed legislation to provide veterans disability, pension and other benefits in the event of a prolonged shutdown. However, the White House is requesting lawmakers to focus on a big-picture solution rather than a piecemeal approach for certain services.
(Read the entire article by AP writer Kevin Freking)
With Veterans Day 2013 just weeks away (November 11), don’t we owe those who dedicated their lives in the service of this country’s freedom better than this? What about the wives and families of those veterans who paid the ultimate price for America? I think we all know the answer. Perhaps our government will figure it out before it makes a charade of the approaching Veterans Day holiday.
Senior Vice President
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