Love Lives On Act of 2025

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

<DOC>

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.''.
                                 <all>