{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mckinley.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=811", "Rep. McKinley: \"Shameful\" Move by Administration Denies Death Benefits to the Families of Fallen U.S. Soldiers", "2013-10-09", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "WV", "David McKinley", "M001180", "mckinley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Passes Bill Gives Pentagon Explicit Authority to Pay Death Benefits to Families\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Today, Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E voted to ensure the families of fallen U.S. soldiers will continue to receive the death benefits they were promised during the government shutdown. The Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act passed the House unanimously after the Pentagon announced it would not be able to pay benefits to the families of troops who had been killed in combat. These soldiers volunteered to serve and protect their country and then paid the ultimate sacrifice, said Rep. McKinley. The grieving families they left behind should not have to worry about their financial well-being. Stopping payment of these benefits is unconscionable. The House acted today to give the Pentagon the explicit authority and funds to make sure the loved ones of fallen soldiers aren't victimized by what's happening in Washington, said McKinley. Punishing grieving widows and families for a political disagreement is unfair and wrong. This did not have to happen, added McKinley. The Obama Administration should never have put the welfare of our troops and their families in question when the law he signed last week was clearly intended to cover these payments. The vote today will prevent the families of fallen heroes from being victimized further by the Obama Administration's political games. Last week, Rep. McKinley and House Members unanimously passed the Pay Our Military Act with the intent that all military pay and allowances would continue during a government shutdown. Those allowances included death gratuities and benefits to the families of fallen soldiers. The Pentagon says it has specific instructions from its budget office not to make payments for deaths that occurred after 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2013. -30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mckinley.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=811"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6960688624531031, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}