Rep. Bill Foster has sponsored new legislation to save the families of active military personnel from added financial hardship. The project is based on the "Illinois Military Family Relief Fund," a successful aid program started in the Prairie State that distributes money to financially strapped families whose breadwinner is stationed overseas. The Illinois program is funded by voluntary contributions from taxpayers on their state tax returns. Foster's plan would offer all Americans a similar option on their federal returns. The money would be distributed by the U.S. Defense Department. The Associated Press reports that the Illinois model has been instrumental in giving military personnel and their families at home financial peace of mind:
The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund provides grants every six months to applicant families whose breadwinner is serving in uniform and face financial hardship, with allocations ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 per year depending on need, officials said.
To date, the fund has distributed $6.2 million to more than 11,000 military families across the state.
If Foster's National Military Family Relief Fund gains momentum it could be implemented as early as next year.
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