February 4, 2005

Washington, DC – Today, Senator Gordon Smith announced that he is a co-sponsor of the Honoring Every Requirement of Exemplary Service (HEROES) Act which will substantially increase the benefits awarded to families of American troops killed during combat.

“America’s armed forces are made up of the best trained, most courageous troops in the world,” said Smith. “We owe so much to them for the safety and freedom we enjoy, and extending benefits to the families of the fallen is our duty.”

The HEROES Act increases one time payments to the families of fallen American troops from $12,400 to $100,000, expands health care coverage for surviving children and increases the maximum life insurance coverage available to troops in the field. If approved, the benefit would apply retroactively to cover all of the troops killed in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

“Oregon families have experienced terrible loss at the hands of our enemies abroad,” Smith said. “We will never be able to soften the devastating hardship these families know or much less repay them for their sacrifice, but this bill will help alleviate some of their financial burdens.”

The Act would index the death and life insurance benefits to the rate of annual pay raises. The Act enjoys strong bipartisan support and is among the top ten priorities highlighted by Senate Republicans for the 109th Congress.

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