H.R. 4637

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4637 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4637

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for 
certain benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs for veterans rated totally disabled at death to 
certain surviving spouses.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2025

Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for 
certain benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs for veterans rated totally disabled at death to 
certain surviving spouses.

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 ``Veterans' Surviving Spouse Equity 
Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN BENEFITS UNDER LAWS 
ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR 
SURVIVORS OF CERTAIN VETERANS RATED TOTALLY DISABLED AT 
TIME OF DEATH.

Subsection (c) of section 1318 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking (or);
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) the surviving spouse--
``(A) was married to the veteran for a period of 
one year or more immediately preceding the veteran's 
death; or
``(B) lived with the veteran in the same household 
for at least one year immediately preceding the 
veteran's death and held themselves to the public as 
the spouse of the veteran during such period, 
regardless of whether the veteran or the surviving 
spouse entered into another legal or religious marriage 
during such period.''.
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