Palm Coast Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz and Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan have introduced a bipartisan bill in the House called the Protecting the Families of our Fallen Patriots Act. The aim of this bill is to ensure that Gold Star families, the families of fallen service members, receive the retirement benefits they are entitled to.

According to Waltz, "The surviving spouses of our fallen patriots should be allowed to provide for their young children without the worry of losing part of their benefits," He further added, "These struggling families have already made the costliest of sacrifices for our freedoms and we have a sacred obligation to ensure they are cared for. I am honored to introduce bipartisan legislation with a fellow veteran in Congress, Rep. Houlahan, to ensure our Gold Star families receive the full retirement benefits they deserve."

Houlahan also emphasized the importance of supporting the surviving spouses of fallen heroes, stating, "We must stand by those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, and one way we fulfill that solemn duty is by taking care of their surviving spouses. Right now, there's a critical gap in our support system for Gold Star families, and our bipartisan bill will fix it. I am honored to work with Congressman Waltz, a fellow veteran, on this vital effort to ensure families of our fallen heroes receive the full Social Security benefits they are entitled to."

The Protecting the Families of Our Fallen Patriots Act has garnered support from several cosponsors, including Congressmen Don Bacon, Sanford Bishop, Zach Nunn, and Donald Davis.

Currently, surviving spouses of fallen service members are eligible for the "Mother's and Father's" benefits to care for children under 16 years old. This benefit is 75% of the deceased worker's primary insurance amount. However, it does not take into account the total number of children that need to be cared for. Instead, it is based solely on the deceased worker's benefit.

One issue that this bill aims to address is the Retirement Earnings Test (RET) imposed by Social Security. Under the RET, monthly Social Security beneficiaries below retirement age have their benefits reduced if their earnings exceed an annual threshold. Currently, they are subject to a $1 reduction in benefits for every $2 of earnings over $21,240.

The Protecting the Families of Our Fallen Patriots Act seeks to exempt the "Mother's and Father's" benefit of servicemembers killed in the line of duty from the RET. This exemption would ensure that surviving spouses of fallen heroes receive the full Social Security benefits they are entitled to, allowing them to provide for their children without any additional financial burden.

With bipartisan support, this bill aims to bridge the critical gap in support for Gold Star families and honor the sacrifices made by fallen service members. By ensuring that these families receive the retirement benefits they deserve, the Protecting the Families of our Fallen Patriots Act takes an important step towards fulfilling our duty to those who have given their lives for our nation.