Surviving Families Benefit Expansion Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8559 To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and to expand eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation paid to certain survivors of certain veterans. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 9, 2020 Mrs. HAYES (for herself, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. WILD, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. KILMER, and Mr. COX of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and to expand eligibility for dependency and indemnity com- pensation paid to certain survivors of certain veterans. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Surviving Families 4 Benefit Expansion Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:34 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8559.IH H8559 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8559 IH SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPEND- 1 ENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR 2 SURVIVORS OF CERTAIN VETERANS RATED 3 TOTALLY DISABLED AT TIME OF DEATH. 4 Section 1318 of title 38, United States Code, is 5 amended— 6 (1) in subsection (a)— 7 (A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and in- 8 serting ‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph 9 (2), the Secretary’’; and 10 (B) by adding at the end the following new 11 paragraph: 12 ‘‘(2) In any case in which the Secretary makes a pay- 13 ment under paragraph (1) of this subsection by reason 14 of subsection (b)(1) of this section and the period of con- 15 tinuous rating immediately preceding death is less than 16 10 years, the amount payable under such paragraph shall 17 be an amount that bears the same relationship to the 18 amount otherwise payable under such paragraph as the 19 duration of such period bears to 10 years.’’; and 20 (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘10 or 21 more years’’ and inserting ‘‘not less than five 22 years’’. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:34 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8559.IH H8559 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8559 IH SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 1 COMPENSATION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES 2 WHO REMARRY AFTER AGE 55. 3 Section 103(d)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, 4 is amended in the second sentence by inserting ‘‘chapter 5 13 or’’ after ‘‘benefits under’’. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:34 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8559.IH H8559 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS