Blumenthal Statement On Obama Administration’s Decision To Extend Federal Benefits To Same-Sex Spouses Of Veterans

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement after the Obama Administration announced that it will extend federal benefits to same-sex spouses of veterans:

“I applaud the Obama Administration’s decision today to treat same-sex and heterosexual spouses of veterans equally with regard to federal benefits, as I called for. Military couples deserve the same rights and benefits regardless of sexual orientation, and I’m glad the Administration is taking steps to right this historic wrong. Continuing to deny these families equal rights and benefits would be a grave injustice unworthy of our great nation.”

Last month, Blumenthal wrote to Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and President Obama urging them to swiftly grant full federal benefits to all veterans and their spouses regardless of sexual orientation  after speaking with Navy veteran Carmen Cardona of Norwich, who was denied benefits because of her sexual orientation, and members of the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School.