Bipartisan bill offered by Tillis ensures veteran survivor benefits during pandemic

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on Jan. 28 introduced a bipartisan bill that would ensure family members of United States military veterans who passed away due to the coronavirus receive their dependent benefits. 

“As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, we have tragically lost thousands of veterans who had service-related disabilities,” said Sen. Tillis. “This bipartisan legislation would ensure the families of those veterans receive the rightful benefits they deserve.”

Specifically, the Ensuring Survivor Benefits During COVID Act, S. 89, which Sen. Tillis cosponsored with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to secure medical opinions for veterans with service-connected disabilities who die from COVID-19 to determine whether such disabilities were the principal or contributory causes of death, according to the congressional record bill summary.

“COVID-19 has taken the lives of too many Arizonans, including our brave veterans,” Sen. Sinema said. “Learning whether service-related disabilities contribute to veterans’ coronavirus deaths will help ensure family members grieving the loss of veterans receive their rightful benefits.”

Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), thanked the senators for their efforts. “It is our hope and expectation that the Ensuring Survivors Benefits during COVID-19 Act of 2021 will receive overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle and we look forward to seeing it passed into law,” she said.