March 21, 2025
Mr. Lawler (for himself and Mr. Conaway) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to automatically pay dependency and indemnity compensation to a survivor of a veteran with a service-connected mental disorder who dies by suicide.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Service-Connected Suicide Compensation Act
.
Sec. 2. Automatic dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of a veteran with a service-connected mental disorder who dies by suicide
Section 1310(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by inserting (1)
before When
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(2)
The Secretary shall pay dependency and indemnity compensation to the surviving spouse, children, and parents of a veteran who the Secretary determines—
(A)
has a mental disorder that is a service-connected disability; and
(B)
dies by suicide.