EDITOR:

In June, a Veterans Service Officer from Dickinson County reached out to my office to share the heartbreaking story of a Kingsford veteran named Gerald – “Jerry” – Elliott.

Jerry served our country honorably in the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of corporal. Within his local community, he volunteered at the local VA hospital and served as a post commander at American Legion Post 363.

Jerry’s patriotism and service is unquestionable. But after passing away in 2019 – Jerry and his family were denied burial benefits by the Veterans Administration (VA) simply because he passed away at home, and not at a VA facility.

To me, this is unacceptable. veterans deserve to be treated equally based on their service – not penalized because of the circumstances at their time of passing.

Currently, the VA will cover roughly $800 of veterans’ burial and funeral costs if they pass away at the VA – while only covering roughly $300 of the expenses if a veteran passes away in hospice or elsewhere.

That’s why I recently introduced the Senate companion of the bipartisan Gerald’s Law Act with my colleagues Senator John Boozman (R-AK) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-IN) to expand the VA’s burial benefit eligibility – by ensuring terminally ill veterans who choose to spend their final days at home can receive the same amount of financial assistance that is available to veterans who pass away at a VA hospital or health care facility.

Addressing this gap in the VA’s policy will mean veterans and their families can make the best choices for themselves during those difficult times. I’m going to keep working to pass this commonsense legislation into law.

U.S. Senator Gary Peters

D – Michigan