WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

S. 611 · 119th Congress

Caring for Survivors Act of 2025

IntroducedArmed Forces and National Security
IntroducedFeb 18, 2025
Passed SenateNot yet
Passed HouseNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Introduced. Latest step, Mar 11, 2025: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35. It would change 2 sections of existing law.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

S. 611 would change 2 sections of existing law. Read from the bill text as introduced in the Senate (Feb 18, 2025).

38 U.S.C. 1311 Dependency and indemnity compensation to a surviving spouse

  • (a) (1) Dependency and indemnity compensation shall be paid to a surviving spouse… changed · Sec. 2(a) · see the words

38 U.S.C. 1318 Benefits for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death

  • (a) The Secretary shall pay benefits under this chapter to the surviving spouse and… added to · Sec. 3(1) · see the words
  • (b) A deceased veteran referred to in subsection (a) of this section is a veteran… changed · Sec. 3(2) · see the words
What the words would change: every change, in place (4)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)changedby S. 611 Sec. 2(a)

    (a)(1) Dependency and indemnity compensation shall be paid to a surviving spouse at the monthly rate of $1,154equal to 55 percent of the rate of monthly compensation in effect under section 1114(j) of this title.

    The bill says: Section 1311(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended in paragraph (1), by striking "of $1,154" and inserting "equal to 55 percent of the rate of monthly compensation in effect under section 1114(j) of this title".

  2. 38 U.S.C. 1318(a)changedby S. 611 Sec. 3(1)

    (a) The Secretary(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall pay benefits under this chapter to the surviving spouse and to the children of a deceased veteran described in subsection (b) of this section in the same manner as if the veteran's death were service connected.

    The bill says: by striking "The Secretary" and inserting "(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary"; and

  3. 38 U.S.C. 1318(a)added (2)by S. 611 Sec. 3(1)

    (2) In any case in which the Secretary makes a payment under paragraph (1) of this subsection by reason of subsection (b)(1) and the period of continuous rating immediately preceding death is less than 10 years, the amount payable under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be an amount that bears the same relationship to the amount otherwise payable under such paragraph as the duration of such period bears to 10 years.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

  4. 38 U.S.C. 1318(b)(1)changedby S. 611 Sec. 3(2)

    (1) the disability was continuously rated totally disabling for a period of 10 or more yearsfive or more years immediately preceding death;

    The bill says: in subsection (b)(1), by striking "10 or more years" and inserting "five or more years".

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Caring for Survivors Act of 2025

This bill increases the monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Dependency and indemnity compensation is a monthly payment made to eligible survivors (i.e., spouses, parents, or children) of (1) certain veterans who died as a result of a service-connected condition; (2) service members killed while on active military duty or active or inactive duty for training; or (3) veterans who did not die from a service-connected condition, but were totally disabled by a service-connected disability for a certain period of time.

The bill also (1) reduces, from 10 years to 5 years, the period of time that certain veterans must have been rated totally disabled due to a service-connected disability in order for a survivor to qualify for benefits; and (2) specifies the amount that is payable to survivors of veterans who were rated totally disabled for a period of less than 10 years before their death.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in Senate, Feb 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. Mar 11, 2025Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.Senate
  2. Feb 18, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Senate
  3. Feb 18, 2025Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

Cosponsors

  • Tammy Baldwin D-WI
  • John Boozman R-AR
  • Tammy Duckworth D-IL
  • Andy Kim D-NJ
  • Patty Murray D-WA
  • Bernard Sanders I-VT
  • Elizabeth Warren D-MA