Congressman Tim Kennedy Co-Sponsors Bill to Extend Veteran Pension Benefits to Spouses
Buffalo-area Congressman Tim Kennedy is an original co-sponsor of the Sergeant Gary Beikirch Medal of Honor Act, a House bill aimed at extending special pension allowances to the spouses of deceased Medal of Honor recipients. This legislation, proposed by Rochester-area Congressman Joe Morelle, seeks to ensure that the families of these American heroes are financially supported after their passing. Currently, Medal of Honor recipients have access to a special pension, and this bill would allow their spouses to receive this allowance in addition to any dependency compensation they might already qualify for. Congressman Kennedy emphasized that this measure would alleviate financial concerns for the family members of those who have served the country. According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, there are 65 living recipients across the U.S., making the potential impact on their families significant, despite the small number of recipients.
