Dear Friends,

I wish you could have been on the floor of the Senate to see it happen.

Yesterday, I put our values to a vote -- advancing two key elements of our Military Families Bill of Rights. Their successful passage produced a dramatic victory for military families that have sacrificed so much for our country.

You made it happen. By giving voice to our values over months of effort, the johnkerry.com community moved military families closer to the help they so richly deserve.

We succeeded in getting the Republican Senate to allow military families who have lost a loved one to remain in military housing for a full year, not the current 180 days. Then we got the Republican Senate to agree to assure that all military families receive a total of $500,000 in death benefits when a loved one dies in service to America.

These measures passed, in no small part, because I was able to read some of the more than 3000 personal stories that johnkerry.com community members shared in response to my call for help.

Several Senators were so moved that they asked on the spot to be added as co-sponsors. We still have work to do. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives where we'll have to press for action.

But, right now, I just want to thank you. We gave voice to our values and won.

Together,

John Kerry

P.S. Below are just a few of the many stories that I officially entered into the Congressional Record.

To read all of the stories entered into the record please visit:

http://www.johnkerry.com/features/militaryfamilies

Alan - Aberdeen, SD

This is a story about my own family. In January 2003, my wife was called to active duty with her Army National Guard unit. She was inactive status and a mere 7 days from being completely out of the military when she was mobilized. She went from being a civilian attorney to a Sergeant/E-5 administrative clerk at a significant loss of pay. At that time, I became a single parent to four young children for one full year. In August 2004, I too was called to active duty with my Army Reserve unit. I went from being a university professor to being a Sergeant First Class/E-7. Once again, our four children were without one of their parents during their critical stages of development. We've done our part, now it's time for others to do their part. The burden placed on the National Guard and Reserve forces seems extreme. The morale among more seasoned soldiers, those with 10 to 20 years of service, is not good. Many are getting out of the military at the first available moment.
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Jack - Corpus Christi, TX

This is a story about a young couple in Austin, Texas. The husband works for Home Depot and was called up in the Marine reserves. There are two young children, both girls. One of the girls has Job's Syndrome. Home Depot did not continue the family's insurance.

They had to go out and pay ridiculous rates for additional health insurance to cover the child. That was money they could not afford because Home Depot did not pay his salary while he was gone. The child was in the hospital for much of the time the father was in Iraq. The mother had to take off from teaching to stay with the child in the hospital. She used up all vacation and sick time, and then was docked pay for lost time. We are not taking care of our soldiers or their families.
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Doris - Albuquerque, NM

I just lost my husband on February 11. He was a navy pilot for 28 years. He paid on my SBP for years, and now I can hardly get by, and waiting for the increase in October is going to be difficult. I will have to sell my house to survive. It appears they are waiting for us to die to....

Not enough is being done for the active duty veteran. I don't see how the administration can be so tight with the veterans and their loved ones while we wage war in a foreign country and pour in millions of millions of dollars.

A Great Victory You Helped Win! - johnkerry.com

Good points... not all those stories ring true....  But I can tell ya since I removed the Army Reserve from my resume .. I've gotten a lot more job offers....  it could be the economy, or maybe cause I removed those tatoos on my neck and face and showered .

Any legislation passed is welcome.

I've got the opposite effect on my military service, I'm not looking for work and hardly a week goes by were someone calls and wants to know if I want a job.  I'm waiting for the one which has "No duty chit" somewhere in the job description.

A most welcome developement, but methinks two instances mentioned in your quote don't make sense:

1.  "Jack - Corpus Christi, TX

This is a story about a young couple in Austin, Texas. The husband works for Home Depot and was called up in the Marine reserves. There are two young children, both girls. One of the girls has Job's Syndrome. Home Depot did not continue the family's insurance.

They had to go out and pay ridiculous rates for additional health insurance to cover the child. That was money they could not afford because Home Depot did not pay his salary while he was gone. The child was in the hospital for much of the time the father was in Iraq. The mother had to take off from teaching to stay with the child in the hospital. She used up all vacation and sick time, and then was docked pay for lost time. We are not taking care of our soldiers or their families."

If a reservist is called to active duty for a period of over 30 days his family is eligible for Tricare Prime, just like the families of regular active duty members. Tricare Prime covers all costs except the subsistence portion (food costs) during hospitalization, therefore methinks there's something 'bout this story that does not compute.

2.  "Doris - Albuquerque, NM

I just lost my husband on February 11. He was a navy pilot for 28 years. He paid on my SBP for years, and now I can hardly get by, and waiting for the increase in October is going to be difficult. I will have to sell my house to survive. It appears they are waiting for us to die to....

Not enough is being done for the active duty veteran. I don't see how the administration can be so tight with the veterans and their loved ones while we wage war in a foreign country and pour in millions of millions of dollars."

Here 'twould seem ya got someone retired from the Navy, like me but methinks with many more $$ a month. Like me 'tis stated he participated in the Survivors Benefit Plan to provide financially for his dependents in the case of his death. 'Twould seem he would have also been smart enough to enroll in an insurance plan to ensure financial stability during the transition period like me and most other retirees I know. Even if he chose just VGLI methinks 'twould have paid the bills and gotten her back on her feet.

IMHO when anyone uses situations like these as examples of why something is needed 'twould seem they've got a poor grasp of reality, eh?

Just the same I'm glad the legislation passed!

Good points... not all those stories ring true....  But I can tell ya since I removed the Army Reserve from my resume .. I've gotten a lot more job offers....  it could be the economy, or maybe cause I removed those tatoos on my neck and face and showered .

Any legislation passed is welcome.

I've got the opposite effect on my military service, I'm not looking for work and hardly a week goes by were someone calls and wants to know if I want a job.  I'm waiting for the one which has "No duty chit" somewhere in the job description.

Thats great for you...

my guess is that you're a few years into your military retirement, not an actively drilling on the weekends (oh ah excuse me.. participating in Battle Assemblys) and chances of deployment for you are narrow....

While I'm currently not seeking work.. when I was --- having any Army Reserve on the resume becomes the BIG WHITE ELEPHANT in the room.

While alot of Corporations give lip service to fair hiring practices; the reality is the person that's looking for someone to hire has a vested interest in picking the best candidate and the one that can be relied on to be on the job (not off for a year at a time) and making them look good (tough to do when your performing your duty for uncle sam). 

That's just the way it is. 

So leaving it off the resume and mentioning it in passing (oh by the way) to the HR folks once you've been hired is much higher rate of success..... IMHO

Crunching numbers, wrighting code or making fancy power point presentations may pay the bills.... but its "long ride on the A train" from any quality of life....

I'll rather be sitting on the rocks in central park watching the hawks catch pigeons... and...

I'm doing just that with my three year old while I wait for the boys (and girls) in the Ivory tower to clue me in on when I ship out.