HR854-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Captain James C. Edge Gold Star Spouse Equity Act.

2. Continued eligibility for Survivor Benefit Plan for certain surviving spouses who remarry Section 1450(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— by striking An annuity and inserting (A) Subject to subparagraph (B), an annuity; and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: The Secretary may not terminate payment of an annuity for a surviving spouse described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 1448(d)(1) solely because that surviving spouse remarries. In the case of a surviving spouse who remarried before reaching age 55 and before the date of the enactment of the Captain James C. Edge Gold Star Spouse Equity Act, the Secretary shall resume payment of the annuity to that surviving spouse for each month after the date of the enactment of that Act. (B)The Secretary may not terminate payment of an annuity for a surviving spouse described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 1448(d)(1) solely because that surviving spouse remarries. In the case of a surviving spouse who remarried before reaching age 55 and before the date of the enactment of the Captain James C. Edge Gold Star Spouse Equity Act, the Secretary shall resume payment of the annuity to that surviving spouse for each month after the date of the enactment of that Act..

3. Continued eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses who remarry Section 103(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— in paragraph (2)(B), by adding at the end the following: The remarriage of a surviving spouse shall not bar the furnishing of benefits under section 1311 of this title to the surviving spouse of a veteran.; and in paragraph (5), by striking subparagraph (A) and renumbering subparagraphs (B) through (E) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively. Beginning on the first day of the first month after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall resume payment of dependency and indemnity compensation under section 1311 of such title to each living individual who— is the surviving spouse of a veteran; and remarried before— reaching age 57; and the date of the enactment of this Act.