Senate OKs Bill to Pay Military Death Benefits

(AP) Senate OKs bill to pay military death benefits
By DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press
WASHINGTON
The Senate has approved legislation to provide benefits to the families of fallen troops.

The Senate backed the measure Thursday, after the House approved it unanimously a day earlier.

The Pentagon typically pays out $100,000 within three days of a soldier’s death. But officials say the shutdown means there’s no authority now to pay the money.

That’s a point of dispute with members of Congress who argue that the benefits should not be affected.

Facing controversy, the Obama administration announced Wednesday that a charity called the Fischer House Foundation would pick up the costs of the payments during the government shutdown.