Veteran
Legislation Updates
Spratt’s
Amendment Giving Free Life Insurance to Troops Becomes Law
WASHINGTON – An amendment by U.S.
Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) to give free life insurance to troops in
combat became law on October 17 when President Bush signed the
defense authorization bill. Spratt’s amendment pays all premiums
incurred by military personnel for Servicemembers’ Group Life
Insurance (SGLI) coverage up to the maximum amount of $400,000.
The coverage will be available to troops serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan. These troops have received reimbursement for premiums
paid on the first $150,000 of SGLI coverage. Now, under Spratt’s
amendment, they will receive reimbursement for all premiums paid
while serving in a combat theater like Iraq.
“Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for us
every day,” said Spratt. “They should not have to pay for life
insurance when we put them in harm’s way. This bill allows every
service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to take the full
amount of life insurance available, and not worry over the costs
associated with it.”
For the past three years Spratt has advocated for increases in SGLI
coverage from $150,000 to $400,000, reimbursement of premiums paid
for such coverage, and increases in the death gratuity paid by the
military to family of service members killed in Operations Iraqi
Freedom and Enduring Freedom from $6,000 to $100,000. As a result of
these improvements, the family of a service member killed in one of
these theaters could receive as much as $500,000 from combined
payments of death gratuity and SGLI life insurance.
“This is precious little consolation to families who lose loved
ones, but it will help through their painful transition. It is the
least we can do for the families of those who make the ultimate
sacrifice so that we can live free and secure,” Spratt said.
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