WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

S. 1204 · 119th Congress

Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act

Passed SenateArmed Forces and National Security
IntroducedMar 31, 2025
Passed SenateDec 18, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed Senate. Latest step, Dec 19, 2025: Held at the desk.

What it does

Sourced

Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act

This bill expands eligibility for the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program to the spouses of certain veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Such program is administered by the Department of Labor and generally provides career and employment services to disabled veterans.

The bill expands eligibility for the program to spouses of

• persons who died while members of the Armed Forces;

• persons who died of a service-connected disability;

• members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, for more than 90 days, are listed as missing in action, captured by a hostile force, or forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government power;

• persons who have a total permanent disability resulting from a service-connected disability; and

• persons who died while an evaluated total disability was in existence.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Passed Senate, Dec 18, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. Dec 19, 2025Held at the desk.House floor actions
  2. Dec 19, 2025Received in the House.House floor actions
  3. Dec 19, 2025Message on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
  4. Dec 18, 2025Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8895; text: CR S8895)Senate
  5. Dec 18, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  6. Dec 18, 2025Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.Senate
  7. Dec 18, 2025Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  8. Mar 31, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Senate
  9. Mar 31, 2025Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

Cosponsors

  • Bill Cassidy R-LA
  • John Cornyn R-TX
  • John W. Hickenlooper D-CO
  • Tim Kaine D-VA
  • Mark Kelly D-AZ
  • James Lankford R-OK
  • Eric Schmitt R-MO
  • Tina Smith D-MN