118th CONGRESS 2d Session |
To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, to expand eligibility for certain benefits that arise from the death of a member of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
July 15, 2024
Mr. Carbajal (for himself and Mr. Waltz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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
To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, to expand eligibility for certain benefits that arise from the death of a member of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “ROTC and DEP Benefits Improvement Act”.
SEC. 2. Expansion of eligibility for certain benefits that arise from the death of a member of the Armed Forces.
(a) Death gratuity.—Section 1475(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “for a period of more than 13 days”.
(b) Recovery, care, and disposition of remains.—Section 1481(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(11) Any person not otherwise covered by this section whose death entitles a survivor of such person to a death gratuity under section 1475 of this title.”.
(c) Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.—Section 1965 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in paragraph (5)—
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking “field training or practice cruises” and inserting “advanced training (as such term is defined in section 2101 of title 10)”;
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (D), as amended, as subparagraph (E); and
(4) by inserting, after subparagraph (C), the following new subparagraph (D):
“(i) not otherwise described in this paragraph;
“(ii) enlisted under section 513 of title 10; and
“(iii) without regard to duty status; and”.
(d) Assistance from a casualty assistance officer.—Section 633 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113–66; 10 U.S.C. 1475 note) is amended—
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(C) an individual not described in subparagraph (A) or (B) who is entitled to a death gratuity under section 1475 of title 10, United States Code.”; and
(i) by striking “spouses and dependents” each place it appears and inserting “survivors”; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking “spouses and other dependents of deceased members” and inserting “such survivors”; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking “the spouse and other dependents of a deceased member of the Armed Forces” and inserting “such a survivor”.
(e) Effective date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to a death that occurs on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.