Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A day after Veterans Day, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed Congressman Brad Wenstrup’s (OH-02) bipartisan legislation that would allow the families of fallen and catastrophically injured servicemembers to end their phone, television, or internet contracts without being financially penalized. Wenstrup and Rep. Josh Harder (CA-10) released the following statements following the passage of Protecting Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act:

“I’m proud to support spouses and families of catastrophically injured and fallen servicemembers by ensuring they have the ability to terminate contracts without penalty when tragedy strikes – giving them the flexibility and freedom to relocate to meet their families’ needs said Congressman Brad Wenstrup. “I thank my colleagues for their strong support of this bill and urge the Senate to consider this legislation”

“We owe our men and women in uniform for their service and sacrifice in defense of our country. You expect that companies would do the right thing if a servicemember dies in the line of duty – unfortunately, that’s not always the case. This bill will ensure that grieving loved ones of a fallen hero don’t have to fight their cable or cell phone company to change their service – it’s the last thing these folks need to be worrying about,” said Congressman Josh Harder.“Literally everyone agrees this is a good bill and I look forward to getting it across the finish line.”

Background:

Last year, the House of Representatives passed legislation similar to the Protecting Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act. Unfortunately, due to a technical drafting error, the Senate did not include it in a larger bill.

Congressman Wenstrup has a track record in supporting the families of catastrophically injured and fallen servicemembers. In a similar effort earlier this year, Congressman Wenstrup joined Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) to introduce the Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act, which would extend home and automobile leasing protections in the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, to allow the spouses of catastrophically injured servicemembers to terminate property leases and automobile leases and Gold Star spouses to terminate automobile leases.

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