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>>> RIGHT NOW ON CAPITOL HILL,
THE HOUSE VETERAN'S AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE IS ABOUT TO OPEN A
HEARING.
LAWMAKERS WANT TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT THE IMPACT ON VETERANS AND
THEIR NEEDS WITH THE PARTIAL
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
FAMILIES OF U.S. TROOPS KILLED
IN ACTION ARE BEING DENIED DEATH
BENEFITS BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH
BUREAUCRACY AND TOO LITTLE
AUTHORITY.
THIS MORNING, DEFENSE SECRETARY
CHUCK HAGEL IS AT DOVER AIR
FORCE BASE MARKING A RETURN FOR
TROOPS REMAINS.
>>> NOW ONE CHARITY IS STEPPING
IN TO THE VOID.
AND NOW GRAPPLING WITH UNPAID
BILLS AND EXPENSES, IT WILL
ADVANCE THE MONEY NEEDS FOR THIS
PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> TELL US HOW YOU'RE REACHING
OUT TO MILITARY FAMILIES.
>> FISHER HOUSE'S MISSION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT MILITARY
FAMILIES AND VETERAN'S FAMILIES.
BUT WE NORMALLY FOCUS ON THE
HEALING PROCESS.
ALTHOUGH WE DID BUILD A FISHER
HOUSE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
FAMILIES FALLEN AT DEVELOPER.
WHEN WE LEARN OF THE GAP IN THE
-- AND THIS IS A DIFFICULT TERM
-- DEATH BENEFITS FOR THE
FAMILIES, THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE
NO-BRAINER DECISIONS FOR US.
OUR BOARD AUTHORIZED OUR
MOVEMENT VERY QUICKLY.
AND ACTUALLY, WE RECEIVED A CALL
FROM A SENATOR ASKING US IF WE
WOULD HELP.
OBVIOUSLY, WE JUMPED RIGHT INTO
THE FRAY.
AND SO WE'RE BASICALLY GOING TO
COVER THE GAP IN FUNDING THE
BENEFITS TO THESE FAMILIES WHO
HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH UNTIL THE
SHUTDOWN IS OVER.
OR UNTIL LEGISLATION IS ENACTED
THAT WILL FUND IT WHILE THE
GOVERNMENT IS STILL SHUT DOWN.
>> YOU DEAL WITH THE MOTIONAL
NEEDS OF MILITARY FAMILIES EVERY
DAY.
TELL US HOW THIS IS AFFECTING
THEM EMOTIONALLY?
>> I HAVE TO BE HONEST.
I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK
WITH THEM DIRECTLY AS OF YET.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU, THE ONES
THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO, THE GOLD
DASH STAR MOTHERS AND FAMILIES
AND SO FORTH, THIS IS JUST A
VERY OBVIOUSLY EMAOTIONAL TIME.
THEY HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH AND
THEN THEY LOSE A LOVED ONE IN
SERVICE TO THIS NATION.
IT'S JUST A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
TIME FOR THEM, OBVIOUSLY.
>> HEY, KEN --
>> BUT DO HAVE THIS KIND OF, YOU
KNOW, ADD TO THE -- YOU KNOW TO
THE FRUSTRATION AND TO THE
GRIEVING, IS JUST UNCONSCIONABLE
TO US.
>> I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE
WITH THAT.
IF IT YOU COULD JUST STAND BY
AND LISTEN TO THIS VETERAN'S
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING.