I 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 502 

To increase the amounts payable under the Department of Defense death 

gratuity program and the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 1, 2005 

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey 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 

A BILL 

To increase the amounts payable under the Department of 

Defense death gratuity program and the Servicemembers’ 

Group Life Insurance program. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Honoring Fallen He5 roes Act of 2005’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. INCREASE IN DEATH GRATUITY PAYABLE WITH RE2 SPECT TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 

3 (a) AMOUNT OF DEATH GRATUITY.—Section 

4 1478(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 

5 striking ‘‘$12,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$100,000’’. 

6 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

7 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to deaths occurring 

8 on or after October 1, 2000. 

9 SEC. 3. INCREASE IN COVERAGE UNDER 

10 SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE 

11 PROGRAM. 

12 (a) INSURANCE COVERAGE.—Paragraph (3)(A)(i) of 

13 section 1967(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amend14 ed by striking ‘‘$250,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$400,000’’. 

15 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1967(d) of 

16 such title is amended by striking ‘‘of $250,000’’ and in17 serting ‘‘provided for a member under subparagraph 

18 (A)(i) of subsection (a)(3)’’. 

19 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

20 subsection (a) shall take effect on the first day of the first 

21 month that begins more than 120 days after the date of 

22 the enactment of this Act. 

23 (d) RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY OF INCREASE IN

24 MAXIMUM SGLI BENEFIT FOR MEMBERS DYING IN PER25 FORMANCE OF DUTY ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2000.— 

26 Notwithstanding subsection (c), the amendment made by 
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1 subsection (a) to section 1967(a)(3)(A)(i) of title 38, 

2 United States Code, shall take effect as of October 1, 

3 2000, with respect to any member of the uniformed serv4 ices who died in the performance of duty (as determined 

5 by the Secretary concerned) during the period beginning 

6 on October 1, 2000, and ending at the date specified in 

7 subsection (c) and who on the date of death was insured 

8 under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program 

9 under subchapter III of chapter 19 of title 38, United 

10 States Code, for the maximum coverage available under 

11 that program on that date. 

12 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

13 (1) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec14 retary concerned’’ has the meaning given that term 

15 in section 101 of title 38, United States Code. 

16 (2) UNIFORMED SERVICES.—The term ‘‘uni17 formed services’’ has the meaning given that term in 

18 section 1965(6) of title 38, United States Code. 

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