Congresswoman Cheri Bustos is co-sponsoring the Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Act. The legislation allows surviving military spouses to break their leases without penalty in the aftermath of losing their spouse in the line of duty. Bustos said the issue was brought to her attention when she met Gold Star Spouse Kiley Riney. “Kiley Riney, of Farmington, Illinois – her husband, Douglas Riney, tragically died defending our freedom in Kabul, Afghanistan,” Bustos said. “Kiley and her two young children were living in Texas at the time. Sergeant Riney was assigned to Fort Hood. After her husband’s death, and wanting to return to Illinois to be with family, their landlord refused to terminate the lease that she and her husband had signed.” Bustos went on to say: “The families of our fallen heroes have already sacrificed too much. And we should do everything in our power to ensure grieving spouses can receive all the support they need.” The bill has passed in the House with bi-partisan support. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate. A ceremony will be held Friday to officially rename the Fairview Post Office the Sergeant Douglas J. Riney Post Office. Riney graduated from Spoon River Valley High School and was a volunteer firefighter in Fairview before enlisting in the army.
