Gold Star Spouses Non-Monetary Benefits Act
Summary
Gold Star Spouses Non-Monetary Benefits Act This bill addresses certain federal benefits for surviving spouses of members of the Armed Forces, including those who have remarried. For purposes of noncompetitive appointment to government employment, a surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who was married to such member at the time they died while on active duty may be appointed as a military spouse, regardless of remarriage. Additionally, widows or widowers of certain veterans who served on active duty must be considered preference eligible for purposes of government employment, regardless of remarriage. A surviving spouse who is eligible for the gold star lapel button is entitled to commissary and exchange privileges to the same extent and on the same basis as the surviving spouse of a retired member of the uniformed services. Such spouses are also entitled, upon request, to medical and dental care provided in facilities of the uniformed services. A surviving spouse who is eligible for a gold star lapel button must be permitted to use commissary stores and certain retail facilities on the same basis as a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty. In regard to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, the remarriage of a surviving spouse of a veteran does not bar the furnishing of non-monetary benefits to a surviving spouse who is eligible for a gold star lapel button. Such surviving spouses who are eligible for a gold star lapel button are also eligible for certain VA home loan programs.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jun 25, 2021
Last action Oct 20, 2021
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Oct 20, 2021
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
lower
Sep 7, 2021
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
lower
Jun 25, 2021
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Oversight and Reform, 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.
lower
Jun 25, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 11 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Elise M. Stefanik
RRepublican
Co
Andy Kim
DDemocratic
Co
Dean Phillips
DDemocratic
Co
Don Bacon
RRepublican
Co
Jason Crow
DDemocratic
Co
Jerry L. Carl
RRepublican
Co
Josh Gottheimer
DDemocratic
Co
Matt Gaetz
RRepublican
Co
Michael R. Turner
RRepublican
Co
Michael Waltz
RRepublican
Co
Scott DesJarlais
RRepublican
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