By Jaine Treadwell, The Messenger

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) has announced that he will introduce legislation when the Congress reconvenes later this month that would greatly expand the death benefits for America's military personnel and their families.

Sessions unveiled the details of the Honoring Every Requirement of Exemplary Service (HEROES) Act of 2005 during a luncheon speech to the Hunstville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 11.

The legislation would include raising the death gratuity from $12,420 to $100,000 for military personnel killed in combat.

"We must be generous when a soldier gives his or her life in our nation's defense," Sessions said. "We can and should do much more for these heroes."

This bill would fix a number of serious inadequacies in military compensation policies and Sessions said he will insist that Congress act on it soon.

Sessions said his bill would also increase the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance maximum benefit from $250,000 to $400,000.

Under the proposal, the military would cover the cost of the first $150,000 of insurance for service members once they enter a combat zone.

Randy Ross, Pike County veterans' service officer, said Sessions' bill is probably long overdue.

"When men and women put their lives on the line for their country, they deserve to know that their families will be taken care of if their lives are lost," Ross said. "The United States has lost more than 1,300 troops in Iraq and many of them left spouses and children. There is no amount of money that can compensate them for their loss or parents for the loss of a son or daughter. But that's not what this is about. The $100,000 death gratuity is simply to lessen the financial burden that is the result of such a loss."

Ross said he is proud that an Alabama senator is taking the lead on the bill.

"Sen. Joe Lieberman is chief co-sponsor of the bill and I would be very surprised if it does not pass," Ross said. "I don't think there is a member of Congress that doesn't agree that we need to do more to help families with the financial burdens when loved ones are lost while fighting for their country."

The increase in the maximum benefit of the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance is a justifiable proposal Ross said.

"With the cost of living increasing, this additional benefit would be a great help to those left behind," he said. "And, I certainly agree that the initial cost of the insurance should be covered once a soldier enters a combat zone. That soldier is being put at a high risk for loss of his or her life. Our country owes them at least that much."

The death gratuity would be retroactive to cover those killed while deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department estimated the cost of the legislation at about $460 million the first year, though that figure would be expected to drop in future years by more than half once the retroactive benefits are paid.

Sessions said he wants to expedite passage of an enhanced death benefits package and will introduce his bill on Jan. 24, the day Congress reconvenes.

Please contact your Senators and Congressional Reprentatives to let them know that it is imperative that they support this bill!! The Senate will review the bill first.