H.R. 1004

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1004 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1004

To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and 
services for surviving spouses, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 5, 2025

Mr. Hudson (for himself, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Van Orden, Ms. Morrison, Mr. 
Luttrell, and Mr. Khanna) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and 
services for surviving spouses, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Love Lives On Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO VETERANS DEPENDENCY AND 
INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES WHO REMARRY.

Section 103(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(B)--
(A) by inserting ``(i)'' before ``The remarriage'';
(B) in clause (i), as designated by subparagraph 
(A), by striking ``Notwithstanding the previous 
sentence'' and inserting the following:
``(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i)''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) Notwithstanding clause (ii), the remarriage of a surviving 
spouse shall not bar the furnishing of benefits under section 1311 or 
1562 of this title to the surviving spouse of a veteran.''; and
(2) in paragraph (5)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(B) by renumbering subparagraphs (B) through (E) as 
subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively.

SEC. 3. CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY FOR SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN FOR CERTAIN 
SURVIVING SPOUSES WHO REMARRY.

Section 1450(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``An annuity'' and inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), 
an annuity''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(B) Treatment of survivors of members who die on 
active duty.--The Secretary may not terminate payment 
of an annuity for a surviving spouse described in 
subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 1448(d)(1) solely 
because that surviving spouse remarries. In the case of 
a surviving spouse who remarried before reaching age 55 
and before the date of the enactment of Love Lives On 
Act of 2025, the Secretary shall resume payment of the 
annuity to that surviving spouse--
``(i) except as provided by clause (ii), 
for each month that begins on or after the date 
that is one year after such date of enactment; 
or
``(ii) on the first day of the first month 
beginning after such date of enactment, in the 
case of a surviving spouse who elected to 
transfer payment of that annuity to a surviving 
child or children under the provisions of 
section 1448(d)(2)(B) of title 10, United 
States Code, as in effect on December 31, 
2019.''.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF DEFINITION OF DEPENDENT UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM TO 
INCLUDE A REMARRIED WIDOW OR WIDOWER WHOSE SUBSEQUENT 
MARRIAGE HAS ENDED.

Section 1072(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``; and'' and 
inserting a semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (I)(v), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(J) a remarried widow or widower whose subsequent 
marriage has ended due to death, divorce, or 
annulment.''.
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