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Charity to cover fallen soldiers’ death benefits

WASHINGTON — A military charity stepped in Wednesday to pay death benefits to families of fallen troops that had been suspended due to the government shutdown.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that the Fisher House Foundation, which primarily helps house families near hospitalized soldiers, would pick up the tab, and would be reimbursed by the Pentagon once the budget stalemate ends.

Hagel said he was “offended, outraged and embarrassed that the government shutdown has prevented the Department of Defense from fulfilling this most sacred responsibility in a timely manner.”

Ken Fisher, chairman of the foundation, tweeted: “Proud to do what is right: taking care of our military families affected by the #shutdown.”

The announcement came hours after the White House, amid outrage over the canceled payments, said President Obama was “very disturbed” by the situation, and had made fixing it a priority.

The families usually receive about $100,000 within three days of a service member’s death.

The House also moved swiftly to correct the problem, voting 425-0 in favor of the Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act to restore the funding.