July 23, 2025
Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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.
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.