HOUSE VETERANS’ AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS HELD HEARING 

Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL-01)  held a hearing to consider draft legislation to amend the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program; the Traumatic Injury Protection provisions in PL 109-13; and H.R. 1618, the Wounded Warrior Servicemembers Group Disability Insurance Act of 2005.   

"I am committed to ensuring that servicemembers and their families are provided insurance options so they may identify and address their individual needs," Chairman Miller said.  "The legislation before the Subcommittee today would enhance those options." 

The draft legislation would: 

• Permanently increase the maximum coverage amount for SGLI and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) from $250,000 to $400,000;

• Require the military service Secretary concerned to notify a servicemember’s spouse or unmarried servicemember’s next-of-kin, in writing, of certain insurance elections or beneficiary designations.  The notification would indicate if the servicemember declined coverage or chose an amount less than the maximum.  Furthermore, the spouse would be notified if a beneficiary designation is someone other than the spouse or child;

• Make explicit that the Secretary concerned has a duty to make a good faith effort to notify the spouse/next of kin at their last know address.  Failure to  notify, however, would not affect the validity of the servicemember’s election; and

• Permanently increase the increments of SGLI coverage servicemembers could elect from $10,000 to $50,000. 

Testimony was provided by Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ); Mr. Thomas Lastowka, Director, VA Regional Office and Insurance Center; Dr. Steve Jones, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Department of Defense; Mr. John Melia, Executive Director, Wounded Warrior Project; Mr. John Bollinger, Deputy Executive Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America; and Mr. Bob McDonald, Executive Director, Life/Annuity Sales, USAA.