A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the definition of spouse and surviving spouse to include all individuals lawfully married, and for other purposes.
This bill (S 1314) changes the definition of "spouse" and "surviving spouse" under veterans' benefits law to remove gender restrictions. It ensures that all individuals lawfully married to a veteran - regardless of gender, including same-sex marriages - are recognized for VA benefits like survivor pensions. The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to update all relevant regulations to reflect this change. It directly affects veterans and their spouses in same-sex marriages who were previously excluded from certain benefits due to outdated definitions.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Apr 26, 2023
Last action Apr 26, 2023
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Apr 26, 2023
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
upper
Apr 26, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Gary C. Peters
DDemocratic
Co
Lisa Murkowski
RRepublican
Co
Margaret Wood Hassan
DDemocratic
Co
Susan M. Collins
RRepublican
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