Pushes Amendment to Protect Benefits for Military Families

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Tuesday afternoon, Senator Ayotte went to the Senate floor to discuss her Families Serve, Too, Military Justice Reform Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

In response to cases when a retirement-eligible service member's misconduct can cut off access to benefits for the innocent family that helped earn them, Senator Ayotte offered an amendment that would provide long-term access to the benefits these families would normally be entitled to with a court order if their service member had not committed a crime. Current laws and regulations sometimes force juries to choose between a fair sentence and the wellbeing of an innocent family. When this happens, a retirement-eligible service member's misconduct can leave an innocent family with nothing.

"We ask so much of our service members and their families-they too serve alongside their service member. For families, military service often comes with long periods of separation and frequent moves," said Ayotte.

She continued: "We must ensure that these innocent families aren't deprived of the benefits they need and have helped earn."

The Armed Services Committee-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes a similar provision offered by Senator Ayotte and Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) that would provide temporary help to these innocent families.

The amendment has been endorsed by the following organizations: Military Officer's Association of America, The National Military Family Association, The Fleet Reserve Association, The Association of the U.S. Army, The National Guard Association of the U.S., The Military Order of the Purple Heart, The U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association, The Air Force Women's Officer Association, The Air Force Sergeants Association, and The Retired Enlisted Association.