H.R. 4637
IntroducedVeterans’ Surviving Spouse Equity Act of 2025
Plain-language analysis
Not yet analyzed.
A plain-language breakdown — including any hidden or off-intent provisions and whether the bill was fast-tracked — is generated separately and reviewed before publishing. It will appear here once ready. Until then, the verbatim text below and the official source are the record.
Full text of the bill
Official source on Congress.gov ↗[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 4637 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
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
_______________________________________________________________________
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.''. <all>