PRINTER'S NO. 1113
No. 161 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY D. WHITE AND STACK, SEPTEMBER 19, 2005
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, SEPTEMBER 19, 2005
A RESOLUTION 1 Memorializing the President and the Congress of the United 2 States to increase the military death gratuity payment and 3 coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance 4 program and to require the Federal Government to pay the 5 premiums for members of the armed forces. 6 WHEREAS, The United States Armed Forces, a total force 7 comprised of active, National Guard and reserve personnel, are 8 now undertaking courageous and determined operations against 9 insurgents in Iraq and terrorist forces in Afghanistan and other 10 parts of the world; and 11 WHEREAS, The men and women of our armed forces, while 12 continuously in harm's way, perform their duties and missions in 13 all military conflicts in which the United States is currently 14 engaged; and 15 WHEREAS, In time of war, each member of our armed forces may 16 have to pay the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of duty to 17 our nation; and 18 WHEREAS, An increase in the current Servicemembers' Group 19 Life Insurance (SGLI) program's maximum coverage amount of
1 $250,000 and an increase in the current $12,420 death gratuity 2 payment would greatly benefit the surviving family of an armed 3 forces member killed in action; and 4 WHEREAS, A program change to require the Federal Government 5 to pay the SGLI program's premiums for each armed forces member 6 would greatly benefit those men and women who serve our nation 7 in times of need; therefore be it 8 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 9 memorialize the President and Congress of the United States to 10 increase the military death gratuity payment and the SGLI 11 maximum benefit and to require the Federal Government to pay the 12 SGLI premiums for members of our armed forces; and be it further 13 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 14 the President of the United States, the presiding officers of 15 each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from 16 Pennsylvania. I13L85JLW/20050S0161R1113 - 2 -