November is Military Families Appreciation Month, and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is calling on his fellow Americans to show more support to those families.

In a recent op-ed for the Washington Examiner, Tuberville said there are ways to show appreciation for military members and their families. He also discussed the benefits his “Supporting Families of the Fallen Act,” which passed in October. Tuberville is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.

“Even when the nation is not at war, our military families shoulder a burden few understand,” Tuberville said. “The career of a military spouse must often be sacrificed or curtailed due to frequent moves. Military children are known for making friends quickly, but few pause to consider how often we ask them to leave behind their classmates and teachers.”

He highlighted three ways to care for those veterans and their families.

“First, maintaining the most fearsome and deadly fighting force in the history of the world is the surest way to reduce our need to employ that force,” he said. “Peace can only be secured through strength.

“Second, we must care for veterans when they return home. Those who fight for our country deserve timely access to the health care and benefits promised to them and paid for by their service.

“And finally, we must support our military families. They take on a great deal of duty at home while their uniformed family member is deployed. And should their loved one pay the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, those they leave behind should not also face the grief of financial hardship.”

Tuberville said his bill is already having an impact and will continue to provide benefits to veterans in need.

“The Supporting Families of the Fallen Act (S.2794) increases the Department of Veterans Affairs Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance maximum coverage amount from $400,000 to $500,000,” he said. “This amount may seem small to some, but it could be the deciding factor in whether a child goes to college or whether a family can afford to stay in their home.”

Tuberville said while Congress has recently taken some major steps in helping military families, there is more that needs to be done.

“The Supporting Families of the Fallen Act is a small way for our country to show our appreciation, but we also recognize that it is not enough,” he said. “This month, I hope you will seek out a way to honor the families of those who serve. Whether it’s an act of kindness or a simple thanks, your gesture will reassure our military families that our nation remains grateful for their service.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” Weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee