To amend title 10, United States Code, to change the effective date for paid-up coverage under the military Survivor Benefit Plan from October 1, 2008, to October 1, 2005.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the roundtable discussion held today that brought together representatives of Veterans' Widows International Network, Gold Star Wives, National Association of Uniformed Services, Military Officers Association of America, Vietnam Veterans of America and other veteran survivor organizations.

I made this statement to them today:

I want to thank Edmee Hills, Ron Armstead and the entire VWIN for organizing this 2nd Annual Conference on widow, survivors and family members.

I believe that June 28 should be made into a National Day of Recognition. for all Veterans Survivors.

As you say in your proposed proclamation--since the days more than 200 years ago, servicemen's spouses have followed their husbands from place to place within the United States as well as overseas. These women, who during their husbands' active duty career, unselfishly made great sacrifices to insure the support and welfare of our armed forces on the local and national levels.

These women, and today, the men who are here on the homefront, are the mental lifeline today's soldiers need to stay grounded in an insane situation: WAR.

Gone are the days, or they should be, when a soldier's usefulness ended when his service ended. The families are great resources and should be treated as such.

I am a cosponsor of two bills regarding the Survivors Benefit Plan.

H.R. 808, the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, which repeals provisions to require the offset of amounts paid in dependency and indemnity compensation from Survivor Benefit Plan annuities for the surviving spouses of former military personnel who are entitled to military pay or retired pay.

H.R. 968, to change the effective date for paid-up coverage under the military Survivor Benefit Plan from October 1, 2008. It should be covered now. Survivors should not have to deal with the bureaucracy and their grief.

In addition, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1573, a bill to provide that the increase of $250 per month in the rate of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) payable to a surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who dies on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability shall be paid for so long as there are minor children, rather than only for two years.

I am glad you are all here to discuss the many issues of concern to survivors and I am willing to listen to your suggestions.

In addition, I would like to acknowledge the participants in this year's roundtable discussion:

Ron Armstead, Anthony Hawkins, Edmee Hills, Sharon Hayes, Kathleen Moakley, Deerdre Parke Hollowman, Joyce Karas, Eva Golleher, Dorothy Eng, Rose Lee, Marianne Nugent, Patricia Sharp, Regina Matson, Etta McAfee, Eunice Luke, Patricia Kreigel, Cynthia Dawkins, Leslie Tjarks, Elsie Ryan and Suzanne Melin.