Big Benefit Increases Approved

President Bush has signed an $82 billion emergency war-spending bill that includes provisions to raise the death gratuity from $12,000 to $100,000 for service members killed in areas designated as combat zones. The legislation also increases the maximum life insurance benefit for service members from $250,000 to $400,000. In addition, it authorizes payments of $100,000 to members who lose a limb or suffer other types of traumatic injury.