Kerry To Propose Improving Benefits to Military Families

From the Washington Post:

Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) has kept a relatively low profile since losing the November presidential election but will return to the spotlight this week by offering a round of amendments aimed at beefing up military family benefits. One proposal would eliminate the distinction between combat and noncombat deaths and provide a common death gratuity of $100,000. Another would extend the length of time that widows and children may reside in military housing. Current law allows 180 days, which Kerry would stretch to a full year. And he wants to exempt Individual Retirement Accounts from penalties if service members withdraw money early for deployment-related expenses.