Congress passed two bills (H.R.1865 and H.R.1158), which include all 12 spending bills for FY2020. This avoids a government shutdown that would have occurred Dec. 20, 2019, when the current Continuing Resolution expired. President Trump indicated he will sign the two proposals into law. In related news, the Senate approved (86-8) the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA-S.1790) and sent to the President to be signed into law. The House approved (377-48) the NDAA that includes a three-year phase out of the SBP/DIC offset for military widows/widowers. Veteran’s organization have long sought the elimination of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset for widows and widowers of service members. This offset, also known as the Widow’s Tax, impacts approximately 65,000 widows and widowers of our Armed Forces. All Veteran’s Organizations have advocated that these widows and widowers should receive both SBP and DIC benefits without the current dollar for dollar offset. For more information, contact Sandra at the Veterans Service Office at 602 Strong Ave on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 3pm, or call 365-3612.
Sandra G. Van Zant,
Veterans County Service Officer
