I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 98 

To replace references to ‘‘wives’’ and ‘‘husbands’’ in Federal law with 

references to ‘‘spouses’’, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 3, 2017 

Ms. BROWNLEY of California introduced the following bill; which was referred 

to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To replace references to ‘‘wives’’ and ‘‘husbands’’ in Federal 

law with references to ‘‘spouses’’, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Amend the Code for 

5 Marriage Equality Act of 2017’’. 

6 SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS. 

7 (a) ACT OF AUGUST 16, 1941.—Section 2(b) of the 

8 Act of August 16, 1941, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide com9 pensation for disability or death to persons employed at 

10 military, air, and naval bases outside the United States.’’ 


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1 (42 U.S.C. 1652(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘wife’’ each 

2 place such term appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 

3 (b) ACT OF AUGUST 4, 1955.—Section 43(a) of the 

4 Act of August 4, 1955, entitled ‘‘An Act to direct the Sec5 retary of Agriculture to release on behalf of the United 

6 States conditions in two deeds conveying certain submar7 ginal lands to Clemson Agricultural College of South 

8 Carolina so as to permit such college, subject to certain 

9 conditions, to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of such 

10 lands.’’ (42 U.S.C. 2333(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘hus11 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’. 

12 (c) ACT OF DECEMBER 2, 1942.—Section 101(c) of 

13 the Act of December 2, 1942, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide 

14 compensation for the injury, disability, death, or enemy 

15 detention of employees of contractors with the United 

16 States, and for other purposes.’’ (42 U.S.C. 1701(c)) is 

17 amended by striking ‘‘wife or husband’’ each place such 

18 term appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 

19 (d) ACT OF FEBRUARY 28, 1891.—Section 5 of the 

20 Act of February 28, 1891 (25 U.S.C. 371), is amended 

21 by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married 

22 couple’’. 

23 (e) ACT OF SEPTEMBER 2, 1960.—The Act of Sep24 tember 2, 1960, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for continued 

25 delivery of water under the Federal reclamation laws to 


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1 lands held by husband and wife upon the death of either’’ 

2 (43 U.S.C. 423h) is amended— 

3 (1) in the title, by striking ‘‘husband and wife 

4 upon the death of either’’ and inserting ‘‘a married 

5 couple upon the death of either spouse’’; and 

6 (2) by striking ‘‘husband or wife’’ and inserting 

7 ‘‘married person’’. 

8 (f) CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY ACT OF

9 1949.—The Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 

10 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) is amended— 

11 (1) in the heading of section 16(c), by striking 

12 ‘‘Wives or Husbands’’ and inserting ‘‘Spouses’’; and 

13 (2) in section 19(b)(4), by striking ‘‘widow or 

14 widower, former spouse, and/or a child or children as 

15 defined in section 204 and section 232 of the Cen16 tral Intelligence Agency Retirement Act of 1964 for 

17 Certain Employees’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse, 

18 former spouse, or child as defined in section 102 of 

19 the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act’’. 

20 (g) CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY RETIREMENT

21 ACT.—The Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act 

22 (50 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.) is amended— 

23 (1) in section 221(d)(5), by striking ‘‘former 

24 wife or husband of’’ and inserting ‘‘person who has 

25 been, but is no longer, married to’’; 


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1 (2) in section 232(c)(3), by striking ‘‘former 

2 wife or husband of’’ and inserting ‘‘person who has 

3 been, but is no longer, married to’’; 

4 (3) in section 241— 

5 (A) in subsection (b)— 

6 (i) in paragraph (2), by inserting after 

7 ‘‘former spouse’’ the following: ‘‘(as de8 fined under section 102)’’; 

9 (ii) in paragraph (3)— 

10 (I) in the heading, by striking 

11 ‘‘wife or husband’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘spouse other than as defined under 

13 section 102’’; and 

14 (II) by striking ‘‘former wife or 

15 husband of the former participant’’ 

16 and inserting ‘‘person who has been, 

17 but is no longer, married to the 

18 former participant, but who is not a 

19 former spouse as defined under suc20 tion 102’’; and 

21 (iii) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking 

22 ‘‘former wife or husband’’ and inserting 

23 ‘‘person’’; 

24 (B) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘sur25 viving wife or husband of such participant’’ and 


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1 inserting ‘‘person who was married to such par2 ticipant at the participant’s death’’; and 

3 (C) in paragraph (d)(2)— 

4 (i) by striking ‘‘surviving former 

5 spouse or surviving former wife or husband 

6 of such participant’’ and inserting ‘‘per7 son’’; and 

8 (ii) by striking ‘‘to such former spouse 

9 or former wife or husband’’ and inserting 

10 ‘‘under such paragraph’’; and 

11 (4) in section 304(d)(2), by striking ‘‘widow or 

12 widower’’ each place such term appears and insert13 ing ‘‘surviving spouse’’. 

14 (h) ENERGY EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS

15 COMPENSATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2000.—The Energy 

16 Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program 

17 Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq.) is amended— 

18 (1) in section 3628(e)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘wife 

19 or husband of that individual’’ and inserting ‘‘per20 son’’; and 

21 (2) in section 3630(e)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘wife 

22 or husband of that individual’’ and inserting ‘‘per23 son’’. 

24 (i) ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1978.—Section 

25 109(16) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 


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1 U.S.C. App. 109(16)) is amended by striking ‘‘husband, 

2 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 

3 (j) FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT OF 1993.— 

4 Section 102(f) of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 

5 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612(f)) is amended— 

6 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘husband and 

7 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; and 

8 (2) in paragraph (2)— 

9 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘that 

10 husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘such 

11 spouses’’; and 

12 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘hus13 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’. 

14 (k) FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT OF 1971.— 

15 Section 313(c)(3)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign 

16 Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30114(c)(3)(B)) is amended by 

17 striking ‘‘husband, wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 

18 (l) FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT OF

19 1977.—The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 

20 (30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) is amended— 

21 (1) in section 402— 

22 (A) in subsection (a)(2)— 

23 (i) by striking ‘‘wife who is a member 

24 of the same household of the miner’’ and 


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1 inserting ‘‘spouse who is a member of the 

2 same household as the miner’’; 

3 (ii) by striking ‘‘miner for her sup4 port’’ and inserting ‘‘miner for his or her 

5 support’’; 

6 (iii) by striking ‘‘whose husband is a 

7 miner who has been ordered by a court to 

8 contribute to her support’’ and inserting 

9 ‘‘for whose support the miner has been or10 dered by a court to contribute’’; 

11 (iv) by striking ‘‘216(b) (1) or (2)’’ 

12 and inserting ‘‘216(b)(1) or (2)’’; 

13 (v) by striking ‘‘status as the ‘wife’ of 

14 a miner’’ and inserting ‘‘status as the 

15 ‘spouse’ of a miner’’; 

16 (vi) by striking ‘‘ ‘wife’ also includes a 

17 ‘divorced wife’ as defined in section 

18 216(d)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘ ‘spouse’ also in19 cludes a ‘divorced spouse’ as defined in 

20 section 216(d)(9)’’; 

21 (vii) by striking ‘‘one-half of her sup22 port’’ and inserting ‘‘half of his or her sup23 port’’; and 

24 (viii) by inserting ‘‘his or’’ before ‘‘her 

25 support from such miner’’; and 


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1 (B) in subsection (e)— 

2 (i) by striking ‘‘widow includes the 

3 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse in4 cludes the spouse’’; 

5 (ii) by striking ‘‘individual’s status as 

6 the ‘widow’ ’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s 

7 status as the ‘surviving spouse’ ’’; 

8 (iii) by striking ‘‘surviving divorced 

9 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving divorced 

10 spouse’’; and 

11 (iv) by inserting ‘‘his or’’ before ‘‘her’’ 

12 each place such term appears; 

13 (2) in section 411(c)(4)— 

14 (A) by striking ‘‘widow’s,’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘surviving spouse’s,’’; and 

16 (B) by striking ‘‘wife’s’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

18 (3) in section 413(b)— 

19 (A) by striking ‘‘wife’s’’ and inserting 

20 ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; and 

21 (B) by striking ‘‘widow,’’ and inserting 

22 ‘‘surviving spouse,’’. 

23 (m) FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1980.—The Foreign 

24 Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) is amend25 ed— 


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1 (1) in the item relating to the first section 830 

2 in the table of contents, by striking ‘‘wives and hus3 bands’’ and inserting ‘‘spouses’’; 

4 (2) in section 804— 

5 (A) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘former 

6 wife or husband of a participant or former par7 ticipant’’ and inserting ‘‘person’’; and 

8 (B) in paragraph (13), by striking ‘‘sur9 viving wife or husband of a participant or annu10 itant who was married to the’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘person who was married to a’’; 

12 (3) in section 815(f)(2), by striking ‘‘wife or 

13 husband’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

14 (4) in the first section 830 (relating to qualified 

15 former wives and husbands)— 

16 (A) in the heading of such section, by 

17 striking ‘‘former wives and husbands’’ and in18 serting ‘‘spouses’’; 

19 (B) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘quali20 fied former wife or husband’’ and inserting 

21 ‘‘qualified former spouse’’; and 

22 (C) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘former 

23 wife or husband’’ each place such term occurs 

24 and inserting ‘‘former spouse’’. 


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1 (n) IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT.—The Im2 migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is 

3 amended— 

4 (1) in section 101(a)(35) (8 U.S.C. 

5 1101(a)(35))— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘, ‘wife’, or ‘husband’ ’’; 

7 and 

8 (B) by striking ‘‘, wife, or husband’’; 

9 (2) in section 202(b) (8 U.S.C. 1152(b)), by 

10 striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘spouses’’; 

12 (3) in section 278 (8 U.S.C. 1328), by striking 

13 ‘‘a husband or wife shall be admissible and com14 petent evidence against each other’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘an individual shall be admissible and competent 

16 evidence against such individual’s spouse’’; and 

17 (4) in section 283 (8 U.S.C. 1353), by striking 

18 ‘‘wives’’ and inserting ‘‘spouses’’. 

19 (o) INDIAN LAND CONSOLIDATION ACT.—Section 

20 207(j)(3)(A)(ii) of the Indian Land Consolidation Act (25 

21 U.S.C. 2206) is amended by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ 

22 and inserting ‘‘the participants as spouses’’. 

23 (p) INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.—The Internal Rev24 enue Code of 1986 is amended— 


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1 (1) in the matter following section 21(d)(2)(B), 

2 by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘mar3 ried couple’’; 

4 (2) in section 22(e)(1), by striking ‘‘husband 

5 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

6 (3) in section 38(c)(6)(A), by striking ‘‘husband 

7 or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

8 (4) in section 42(j)(5)(C)— 

9 (A) in the heading of clause (i), by striking 

10 ‘‘Husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘Married 

11 couple’’; and 

12 (B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘a husband 

13 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married couple’’; 

14 (5) in section 62(b)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘hus15 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

16 (6) in section 121— 

17 (A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘hus18 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

19 and 

20 (B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘hus21 band and wife make’’ and inserting ‘‘married 

22 couple makes’’; 

23 (7) in section 165(h)(4)(B), by striking ‘‘hus24 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 


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1 (8) in section 179(b)(4), by striking ‘‘husband 

2 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

3 (9) in section 213(d)(8), by striking ‘‘husband 

4 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married couple’’; 

5 (10) in section 219(g)(4), by striking ‘‘A hus6 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘Spouses’’; 

7 (11) in section 274(b)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘hus8 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

9 (12) in the matter following section 643(f)(2), 

10 by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘mar11 ried couple’’; 

12 (13) in section 682— 

13 (A) in subsection (a)— 

14 (i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘wife’’ 

15 and inserting ‘‘recipient’’; 

16 (ii) by striking ‘‘gross income of a 

17 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘gross income of an in18 dividual’’; 

19 (iii) by striking ‘‘separated from her 

20 husband’’ and inserting ‘‘separated from 

21 his or her spouse’’; 

22 (iv) by striking ‘‘such wife is entitled 

23 to receive’’ and inserting ‘‘such person is 

24 entitled to receive’’; 


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1 (v) by striking ‘‘gross income of her 

2 husband’’ and inserting ‘‘gross income of 

3 his or her spouse’’; 

4 (vi) by striking ‘‘gross income of such 

5 husband’’ and inserting ‘‘gross income of 

6 such spouse’’; and 

7 (vii) by striking ‘‘minor children of 

8 such husband’’ and inserting ‘‘minor chil9 dren of such spouse’’; and 

10 (B) in subsection (b)— 

11 (i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Wife’’ 

12 and inserting ‘‘Recipient’’; 

13 (ii) by striking ‘‘a wife to whom sub14 section (a) applies’’ and inserting ‘‘an indi15 vidual who receives income from a trust to 

16 which subsection (a) applies’’; and 

17 (iii) by striking ‘‘such wife’’ and in18 serting ‘‘such individual’’; 

19 (14) in section 761(f), by striking ‘‘husband 

20 and wife’’ each place such term appears and insert21 ing ‘‘married couple’’; 

22 (15) in section 911— 

23 (A) in subsection (b)(2)(C)— 


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1 (i) by striking ‘‘husband or wife’’ and 

2 inserting ‘‘member of a married couple’’; 

3 and 

4 (ii) by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ 

5 and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; and 

6 (B) in subsection (d)(9), by striking ‘‘a 

7 husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘the members 

8 of a married couple’’; 

9 (16) in section 1244(b)(2), by striking ‘‘hus10 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

11 (17) in section 1272(a)(2)(E)(iii)— 

12 (A) in the heading of such clause, by strik13 ing ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married 

14 couple’’; and 

15 (B) by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and 

16 inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

17 (18) in section 1313(c)(1), by striking ‘‘hus18 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

19 (19) in section 1361(c)(1)(A)(i), by striking 

20 ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

21 (20) in the heading of section 2040(b), by strik22 ing ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouses’’; 

23 (21) in the item relating to section 2513 in the 

24 table of contents for subchapter B of chapter 12 of 


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1 subtitle B, by striking ‘‘husband or wife’’ and insert2 ing ‘‘spouse’’; 

3 (22) in the heading of section 2513, by striking 

4 ‘‘husband or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

5 (23) in section 2516, by striking ‘‘a husband 

6 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘the members of a married 

7 couple’’; 

8 (24) in section 5733(d)(2), by striking ‘‘a hus9 band or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 

10 (25) in the item relating to section 6013 in the 

11 table of contents for subpart B of part II of sub12 chapter A of chapter 61 of subtitle F, by striking 

13 ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

14 (26) in section 6013— 

15 (A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘husband 

16 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

17 (B) in subsection (a)— 

18 (i) in the matter preceding paragraph 

19 (1), by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and 

20 inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

21 (ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the 

22 husband or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

23 and 


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1 (iii) in paragraph (2), by striking 

2 ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘spouses’’; 

4 (C) in subsection (b)(1)— 

5 (i) by striking ‘‘filed by the husband 

6 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘filed by the mar7 ried couple’’; and 

8 (ii) by striking ‘‘the return of the hus9 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘the return 

10 of both spouses’’; 

11 (D) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘the hus12 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘the spouses’’; 

13 and 

14 (E) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘hus15 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married cou16 ple’’; 

17 (27) in the matter following section 6014(b)(4), 

18 by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a 

19 married couple’’; 

20 (28) in section 6017, by striking ‘‘husband and 

21 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

22 (29) in section 6096(a), by striking ‘‘husband 

23 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married couple’’; 

24 (30) in section 6166(b)(2)(B)— 


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1 (A) in the heading of such subparagraph, 

2 by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘a married couple’’; 

4 (B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘husband and 

5 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; and 

6 (C) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘husband and 

7 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

8 (31) in section 6212(b)(2), by striking ‘‘hus9 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married couple’’; 

10 (32) in section 6231(a)— 

11 (A) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking ‘‘a 

12 husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married 

13 couple’’; and 

14 (B) in paragraph (12)— 

15 (i) by amending the heading to read 

16 as follows: 

17 ‘‘(12) SPOUSES.—’’; and 

18 (ii) by striking ‘‘a husband and wife’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘spouses’’; 

20 (33) in section 7428(c)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘hus21 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

22 (34) in section 7701(a), by amending para23 graph (17) to read as follows: 

24 ‘‘(17) DIVORCED SPOUSES.—As used in sec25 tions 682 and 2516, if the married couple therein 


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1 referred to are divorced, wherever appropriate to the 

2 meaning of such sections the term ‘spouse’ shall be 

3 read ‘former spouse’ and the term ‘married couple’ 

4 shall be read ‘former married couple’.’’; and 

5 (35) in section 7872(f)(7)— 

6 (A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Husband 

7 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘Married couple’’; and 

8 (B) by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and 

9 inserting ‘‘married couple’’. 

10 (q) LONGSHORE AND HARBOR WORKERS’ COM11 PENSATION ACT.—The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ 

12 Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended— 

13 (1) in section 2(16), by striking ‘‘wife or hus14 band’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

15 (2) in section 5(a), by striking ‘‘husband or 

16 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

17 (3) in section 8(d)(1)(D), by striking ‘‘wife, 

18 husband,’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

19 (4) in section 9— 

20 (A) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘wife or 

21 husband’’ each place such term appears and in22 serting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

23 (B) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘wife’’ 

24 each place such term appears and inserting 

25 ‘‘spouse’’. 


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1 (r) NATIONAL HOUSING ACT.—Section 527(a) of the 

2 National Housing Act (8 U.S.C. 1735f–5(a)) is amended 

3 by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouses’’. 

4 (s) ACT OF SEPTEMBER 5, 1962.—Section 3(c) of the 

5 Act of September 5, 1962, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide 

6 for the division of the tribal assets of the Ponca Tribe 

7 of Native Americans of Nebraska among the members of 

8 the tribe, and for other purposes.’’ (25 U.S.C. 973(c)) is 

9 amended by striking ‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 

10 (t) RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT OF 1974.—The 

11 Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 231 et seq.) 

12 is amended— 

13 (1) in section 2— 

14 (A) in subsection (c)— 

15 (i) in paragraph (1)(ii), by striking 

16 ‘‘(C), in the case of a wife, has in her care 

17 (individually or jointly with her husband)’’ 

18 and inserting ‘‘(C) has in his or her care 

19 (individually or jointly with his or her 

20 spouse)’’; 

21 (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘di22 vorced wife’’ each place such term appears 

23 and inserting ‘‘divorced spouse’’; 

24 (iii) in paragraph (3)— 

25 (I) by striking ‘‘(i)’’; and 


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1 (II) by striking ‘‘; and (ii) in the 

2 case of a husband, was receiving at 

3 least one-half of his support from his 

4 wife at the time his wife’s annuity 

5 under subsection (a)(1) began’’; 

6 (iv) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘di7 vorced wife’’ each place such term appears 

8 and inserting ‘‘divorced spouse’’; and 

9 (v) in the matter following paragraph 

10 (4), by striking ‘‘divorced wife’s annuity’’ 

11 and inserting ‘‘divorced spouse’s annuity’’; 

12 (B) in subsection (d)— 

13 (i) in paragraph (1)— 

14 (I) in clause (i)— 

15 (aa) by striking ‘‘a widow 

16 (as defined in section 216 (c) and 

17 (k) of the Social Security Act) or 

18 widower (as defined in section 

19 216 (g) and (k) of the Social Se20 curity Act)’’ and inserting ‘‘a 

21 surviving spouse (as defined in 

22 section 216(a) of the Social Secu23 rity Act)’’; and 

24 (bb) by striking ‘‘, and who, 

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1 ceiving at least one-half his sup2 port from the deceased employee 

3 at the time of her death or at the 

4 time her annuity under sub5 section (a)(1) began’’; 

6 (II) in clause (ii)— 

7 (aa) by striking ‘‘a widow 

8 (as defined in section 216 (c) and 

9 (k) of the Social Security Act)’’ 

10 and inserting ‘‘a surviving spouse 

11 (as defined in section 216(a) of 

12 the Social Security Act)’’; and 

13 (bb) by inserting ‘‘his or’’ 

14 before ‘‘her’’; 

15 (III) in clause (iv), by striking 

16 ‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘surviving spouse’’; and 

18 (IV) in clause (v)— 

19 (aa) by striking ‘‘The widow 

20 (as defined in section 216(c) of 

21 the Social Security Act)’’ and in22 serting ‘‘the surviving spouse (as 

23 defined in section 216(a) of the 

24 Social Security Act)’’; 


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1 (bb) by striking ‘‘wife (as 

2 defined in section 216(d)’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘spouse (as defined in 

4 section 216(a)’’; 

5 (cc) by striking ‘‘mother (as 

6 defined’’ and inserting ‘‘parent 

7 (as defined’’; 

8 (dd) by striking ‘‘widow, 

9 surviving divorced wife, or sur10 viving divorced mother’’ each 

11 place such term appears and in12 serting ‘‘surviving spouse, sur13 viving divorced spouse, or sur14 viving divorced parent’’; and 

15 (ee) by striking ‘‘202(f)’’ 

16 and inserting ‘‘202(e)’’; 

17 (ii) in paragraph (2)— 

18 (I) by striking ‘‘, (B) in the case 

19 of a widow, the last month for which 

20 she was entitled to an annuity under 

21 paragraph (ii) of subdivision (1) as 

22 the widow of the deceased employee,’’; 

23 and 


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23 

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1 (II) by striking ‘‘widow or wid2 ower’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

3 spouse’’; 

4 (iii) in paragraph (3), by striking 

5 ‘‘widow, widower, or child’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘surviving spouse or child’’; and 

7 (iv) in paragraph (4)— 

8 (I) by striking ‘‘wife, husband, 

9 widow, widower’’ and inserting 

10 ‘‘spouse, surviving spouse’’; 

11 (II) by striking ‘‘or (c)’’; 

12 (III) by striking ‘‘subsection, (e), 

13 (f), or (g)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 

14 (e) or (g)’’; and 

15 (IV) by striking 

16 ‘‘202(d)(7)(c)(i)’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘202(d)(7)(C)(i)’’; 

18 (C) in subsection (e)(5), by striking ‘‘di19 vorced wife’’ and inserting ‘‘divorced spouse’’; 

20 (D) in subsection (f)(2), by striking 

21 ‘‘wife’s’’ each place such term appears and in22 serting ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

23 (E) in subsection (h)(3), by striking ‘‘wife’’ 

24 and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

25 (2) in section 3— 


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24 

•HR 98 IH

1 (A) in subsection (f)— 

2 (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 

3 ‘‘wife’s or husband’s’’ and inserting 

4 ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

5 (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 

6 ‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

7 (B) in subsection (h)— 

8 (i) by striking ‘‘wife, husband, widow, 

9 or widower’’ each place such term appears 

10 and inserting ‘‘spouse or surviving 

11 spouse’’; and 

12 (ii) by striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, 

13 widow’s, or widower’s’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘spouse’s or surviving spouse’s’’; 

15 (3) in section 4— 

16 (A) in subsection (a)— 

17 (i) in paragraph (1)— 

18 (I) by striking ‘‘divorced wife’’ 

19 each place such term appears and in20 serting ‘‘divorced spouse’’; and 

21 (II) by striking ‘‘wife’s insurance 

22 benefit or the husband’s insurance 

23 benefit’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’s in24 surance benefit’’; and 


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25 

•HR 98 IH

1 (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘sec2 tion 202(a), section 202(b), or section 

3 202(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 202(a) or 

4 section 202(c)’’; 

5 (B) in subsection (e)— 

6 (i) by striking ‘‘wife’s or husband’s in7 surance benefit’’ each place such term ap8 pears and inserting ‘‘spouse’s insurance 

9 benefit’’; and 

10 (ii) in paragraph (4), by striking 

11 ‘‘wife’s and husband’s’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘spouse’s’’; 

13 (C) in subsection (f)— 

14 (i) in paragraph (1)— 

15 (I) by striking ‘‘widow’s insur16 ance benefit, widower’s insurance ben17 efit, mother’s insurance benefits, par18 ent’s insurance benefit, or child’s in19 surance benefit’’ and inserting ‘‘sur20 viving spouse’s insurance benefit, par21 ent’s insurance benefit, or child’s in22 surance benefit’’; 

23 (II) by striking ‘‘widow or wid24 ower’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

25 spouse’’; and 


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26 

•HR 98 IH

1 (III) by striking ‘‘widow’s insur2 ance benefit or widower’s insurance 

3 benefit payable under section 202(e) 

4 or 202(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

5 spouse’s insurance benefit payable 

6 under section 202(e)’’; 

7 (ii) in paragraph (2)— 

8 (I) by striking ‘‘widow or wid9 ower’’ each place such term appears 

10 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

11 (II) in clause (ii), by striking 

12 ‘‘widow’s insurance benefit, a wid13 ower’s insurance benefit, or’’ and in14 serting ‘‘surviving spouse’s benefit 

15 or’’; and 

16 (III) in clause (iii), by striking 

17 ‘‘widow, surviving divorced wife, or 

18 surviving divorced mother’’ and insert19 ing ‘‘surviving spouse, surviving di20 vorced spouse, or surviving divorced 

21 parent’’; and 

22 (iii) in paragraph (3), by striking 

23 ‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur24 viving spouse’’; 

25 (D) in subsection (g)— 


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27 

•HR 98 IH

1 (i) in paragraph (1)(i), by striking 

2 ‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term 

3 appears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

4 (ii) in paragraph (4)— 

5 (I) by striking ‘‘widow or wid6 ower’’ each place such term appears 

7 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; and 

8 (II) by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid9 ower’s’’ each place such term appears 

10 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

11 (iii) in paragraph (5), by striking 

12 ‘‘widow, surviving divorced wife, or sur13 viving divorced mother’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘surviving spouse, surviving divorced 

15 spouse, or surviving divorced parent’’; and 

16 (iv) in paragraph (10)— 

17 (I) by striking ‘‘widow or wid18 ower’’ each place such term appears 

19 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

20 (II) by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid21 ower’s’’ each place such term appears 

22 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

23 and 


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28 

•HR 98 IH

1 (III) in clause (ii), by striking 

2 ‘‘widow or widower’s’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

4 (E) in subsection (h)— 

5 (i) in paragraph (1)— 

6 (I) by striking ‘‘widow or wid7 ower’’ each place such term appears 

8 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

9 (II) by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid10 ower’s’’ each place such term appears 

11 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

12 and 

13 (III) by striking ‘‘or 202(f)’’; and 

14 (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 

15 ‘‘widow, surviving divorced wife, or sur16 viving divorced mother’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘surviving spouse, surviving divorced 

18 spouse, or surviving divorced parent’’; and 

19 (F) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘spouse 

20 or divorced wife’’ each place such term appears 

21 and inserting ‘‘spouse or divorced spouse’’; 

22 (4) in section 5— 

23 (A) in subsection (a)— 


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29 

•HR 98 IH

1 (i) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘wife, 

2 husband, widow, or widower’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘spouse or surviving spouse’’; and 

4 (ii) in clause (vii), by striking ‘‘wife’s 

5 or husband’s’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’s’’; 

6 (B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘widow 

7 or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

8 (C) in subsection (c)— 

9 (i) in paragraph (3)— 

10 (I) by striking ‘‘wife’’ each place 

11 such term appears and inserting 

12 ‘‘spouse’’; and 

13 (II) by inserting ‘‘his or’’ before 

14 ‘‘her’’; 

15 (ii) in paragraph (4), by striking 

16 ‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur17 viving spouse’’; 

18 (iii) in paragraph (5), by striking 

19 ‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur20 viving spouse’’; 

21 (iv) in paragraph (6)— 

22 (I) by striking ‘‘widow’’ and in23 serting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 


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30 

•HR 98 IH

1 (II) by striking ‘‘she dies’’ and 

2 inserting ‘‘such surviving spouse 

3 dies’’; 

4 (III) by striking ‘‘she remarries’’ 

5 and inserting ‘‘such surviving spouse 

6 remarries’’; and 

7 (IV) by striking ‘‘she no longer’’ 

8 and inserting ‘‘such surviving spouse 

9 no longer’’; and 

10 (v) in paragraph (9)(B), by striking 

11 ‘‘widow’s or widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘sur12 viving spouse’s’’; 

13 (5) in section 6— 

14 (A) in subsection (a)— 

15 (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 

16 ‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term 

17 appears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

18 (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 

19 ‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term 

20 appears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

21 (iii) in paragraph (3)— 

22 (I) by striking ‘‘wife’’ and insert23 ing ‘‘spouse’’; and 

24 (II) by striking ‘‘wife’s’’ and in25 serting ‘‘spouse’s’’; 


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1 (iv) in paragraph (6), by striking 

2 ‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur3 viving spouse’’; and 

4 (v) in paragraph (7), by striking 

5 ‘‘widow, widower’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

6 spouse’’; 

7 (B) in subsection (b)— 

8 (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 

9 ‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

10 (ii) in paragraph (2)— 

11 (I) by striking ‘‘widow surviving 

12 divorced wife, widower’’ and inserting 

13 ‘‘no surviving spouse, surviving di14 vorced spouse’’; and 

15 (II) by striking ‘‘widow or wid16 ower’’ each place such term appears 

17 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

18 (C) in subsection (c)— 

19 (i) in paragraph (1)— 

20 (I) by striking ‘‘widow, widower, 

21 or parent’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

22 spouse or parent’’; 

23 (II) in clause (i), by striking 

24 ‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting 

25 ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 


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•HR 98 IH

1 (III) in clause (ii), by striking 

2 ‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

4 (IV) in clause (iii), by striking 

5 ‘‘widow, widower, or child’’ and insert6 ing ‘‘surviving spouse or child’’; 

7 (V) in clause (iv), by striking 

8 ‘‘widow, widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur9 viving spouse’’; 

10 (VI) in clause (v), by striking 

11 ‘‘widow, widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur12 viving spouse’’; 

13 (VII) in clause (vi), by striking 

14 ‘‘widow, widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur15 viving spouse’’; and 

16 (VIII) in the matter following 

17 clause (vi), by striking ‘‘widow, wid18 ower, or parent’’ each place such term 

19 appears and inserting ‘‘surviving 

20 spouse or parent’’; and 

21 (ii) in paragraph (3)— 

22 (I) in subparagraph (A), by strik23 ing ‘‘divorced wife’’ and inserting 

24 ‘‘surviving divorced spouse’’; 


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•HR 98 IH

1 (II) in subparagraph (B), by 

2 striking ‘‘widow’’ and inserting ‘‘sur3 viving spouse’’; and 

4 (III) in the matter following sub5 paragraph (B), by striking ‘‘divorced 

6 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘survivor’’; 

7 (D) in subsection (d)(1), by striking 

8 ‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term ap9 pears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; and 

10 (E) in subsection (e)(1), by striking 

11 ‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term ap12 pears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

13 (6) in section 7— 

14 (A) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by striking 

15 ‘‘wife or divorced wife or husband’’ and insert16 ing ‘‘spouse or divorced spouse’’; and 

17 (B) in subsection (d)(2)(i), by striking ‘‘in 

18 the case of a spouse or divorced wife, had such 

19 spouse’s husband or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘in the 

20 case of a spouse or divorced spouse, had such 

21 person’s spouse’’; and 

22 (7) in section 19(a)— 

23 (A) by striking ‘‘wife’s insurance benefits 

24 payable to a wife, husband’s insurance benefits’’ 


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34 

•HR 98 IH

1 and inserting ‘‘spouse’s insurance benefits’’; 

2 and 

3 (B) by striking ‘‘widow’s insurance benefits 

4 payable to a widow, widower’s insurance bene5 fits, mother’s insurance benefits payable to a 

6 widow’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s bene7 fits payable to a surviving spouse, parent’s in8 surance benefits payable to a surviving spouse’’. 

9 (u) SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958.— 

10 Section 503(a)(2) of the Small Business Investment Act 

11 of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 697(a)(2)) is amended by striking 

12 ‘‘wife, husband’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 

13 (v) SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.—The Social Security Act 

14 (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is amended— 

15 (1) in section 202— 

16 (A) in subsection (b)— 

17 (i) in the heading, by striking 

18 ‘‘Wife’s’’ and inserting ‘‘Spouse’s’’; 

19 (ii) by striking ‘‘wife’’ each place such 

20 term appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

21 (iii) in paragraph (1)— 

22 (I) by striking ‘‘(as defined in 

23 section 216(b))’’; 

24 (II) by striking ‘‘(as defined in 

25 section 216(d))’’; 


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•HR 98 IH

1 (III) in subparagraph (B), by 

2 striking ‘‘her’’ and inserting ‘‘such 

3 spouse’s’’; 

4 (IV) in subparagraph (D)(i), by 

5 striking ‘‘she’’ and inserting ‘‘such 

6 spouse or divorced spouse’’; 

7 (V) in the matter following sub8 paragraph (D)(ii)(II), by inserting be9 fore ‘‘she’’ each place such word ap10 pears the following: ‘‘he or’’; 

11 (VI) in subparagraph (E), by 

12 striking ‘‘she’’ and inserting ‘‘such 

13 spouse’’; 

14 (VII) in subparagraph (G), by 

15 striking ‘‘she’’ each place such term 

16 appears and inserting ‘‘such spouse’’; 

17 (VIII) in subparagraph (H), by 

18 inserting ‘‘he or’’ before ‘‘she’’; and 

19 (IX) in subparagraph (J), by 

20 striking ‘‘she’’ and inserting ‘‘such 

21 spouse’’; and 

22 (iv) in paragraph (2)— 

23 (I) by inserting before ‘‘her’’ 

24 each place such term appears ‘‘his 

25 or’’; and 


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36 

•HR 98 IH

1 (II) by striking ‘‘husband’’ each 

2 place such term appears and inserting 

3 ‘‘spouse’’; 

4 (B) by striking subsection (c); 

5 (C) in subsection (e)— 

6 (i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Wid7 ow’s’’ and inserting ‘‘Surviving spouse’s’’; 

8 (ii) in paragraph (1)— 

9 (I) in the matter preceding sub10 paragraph (A)— 

11 (aa) by striking ‘‘widow (as 

12 defined in section 216(c))’’ and 

13 inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

14 (bb) by striking ‘‘wife (as 

15 defined in section 216(d))’’ and 

16 inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

17 (cc) by striking ‘‘widow or 

18 surviving divorced wife’’ and in19 serting ‘‘surviving spouse or sur20 viving divorced spouse’’; 

21 (II) in subparagraph (C)— 

22 (aa) in clause (i), by striking 

23 ‘‘widow’s’’ and inserting ‘‘sur24 viving spouse’s’’; 

25 (bb) in clause (ii)— 


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37 

•HR 98 IH

1 (AA) in the matter pre2 ceding subclause (I), by 

3 striking ‘‘wife’s’’ and insert4 ing ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

5 (BB) in subclause (III), 

6 by inserting ‘‘he or’’ before 

7 ‘‘she’’ and by inserting ‘‘him 

8 or’’ before ‘‘her’’; and 

9 (cc) in clause (iii), by insert10 ing ‘‘father’s or’’ before ‘‘moth11 er’s’’; 

12 (III) in the matter preceding sub13 paragraph (E), by striking ‘‘widow’s’’ 

14 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

15 (IV) in subparagraph (E), by in16 serting before ‘‘she’’ each place such 

17 word appears the following: ‘‘he or’’; 

18 (V) in subparagraph (F), by in19 serting before ‘‘she’’ each place such 

20 word appears the following: ‘‘he or’’; 

21 and 

22 (VI) in the matter following sub23 paragraph (F)(ii) by inserting before 

24 ‘‘she’’ each place such word appears 

25 the following: ‘‘he or’’; 


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38 

•HR 98 IH

1 (iii) in paragraph (2)— 

2 (I) by striking ‘‘widow’s insur3 ance’’ each place such term appears 

4 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s in5 surance’’; 

6 (II) by striking ‘‘surviving di7 vorced wife’’ each place such term ap8 pears and inserting ‘‘surviving di9 vorced spouse’’; and 

10 (III) by striking ‘‘widow’’ each 

11 place such term appears and inserting 

12 ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

13 (iv) in paragraph (3)— 

14 (I) by striking ‘‘widow’’ each 

15 place such term appears and inserting 

16 ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

17 (II) by striking ‘‘surviving di18 vorced wife’’ each place such term ap19 pears and inserting ‘‘surviving di20 vorced spouse’’; and 

21 (III) by inserting ‘‘he or’’ before 

22 ‘‘she’’; 

23 (v) in paragraph (4)— 


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39 

•HR 98 IH

1 (I) by inserting before ‘‘her’’ 

2 each place such term appears the fol3 lowing: ‘‘his or’’; 

4 (II) by inserting before ‘‘she’’ 

5 each place such term appears the fol6 lowing ‘‘he or’’; 

7 (III) by striking ‘‘widow or sur8 viving divorced wife’’ and inserting 

9 ‘‘surviving spouse or surviving di10 vorced spouse’’; and 

11 (IV) in subparagraph (B), by in12 serting ‘‘or father’s’’ before ‘‘insur13 ance’’; 

14 (vi) in paragraph (5)— 

15 (I) by striking ‘‘widow or sur16 viving divorced wife’’ each place such 

17 term appears and inserting ‘‘surviving 

18 spouse or surviving divorced spouse’’; 

19 and 

20 (II) in subparagraph (A)— 

21 (aa) in clause (i), by insert22 ing ‘‘he or’’ before ‘‘she’’; and 

23 (bb) in clause (ii)(I), by in24 serting ‘‘his or’’ before ‘‘her’’; 

25 and 


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•HR 98 IH

1 (vii) in the matter following para2 graph (7)(B), by striking ‘‘she’’ and insert3 ing ‘‘such individual’’; 

4 (D) by striking subsection (f); 

5 (E) in the matter following subsection 

6 (i)(2), by striking ‘‘wife’s or husband’s’’ and in7 serting ‘‘spouse’s’’; 

8 (F) in subsection (j)(4)(B)(i)— 

9 (i) by striking ‘‘widow, surviving di10 vorced wife or widower’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘surviving spouse or surviving divorced 

12 spouse’’; 

13 (ii) by striking ‘‘widow or widower’’ 

14 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; and 

15 (iii) by striking ‘‘surviving divorced 

16 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving divorced 

17 spouse’’; 

18 (G) in subsection (q)— 

19 (i) in paragraph (1)— 

20 (I) by striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, 

21 widow’s, or widower’s’’ and inserting 

22 ‘‘spouse’s, or surviving spouse’s’’; and 

23 (II) in subparagraph (A)— 


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41 

•HR 98 IH

1 (aa) by striking ‘‘wife’s or 

2 husband’s’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

4 (bb) by striking ‘‘widow’s or 

5 widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘sur6 viving spouse’s’’; 

7 (ii) in paragraph (3)— 

8 (I) in subparagraph (A)— 

9 (aa) by striking ‘‘wife’s, hus10 band’s, widow’s, or widower’s’’ 

11 and inserting ‘‘spouse’s or sur12 viving spouse’s’’; 

13 (bb) by striking ‘‘wife’s or 

14 husband’s’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

16 (cc) by striking ‘‘widow’s or 

17 widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘sur18 viving spouse’s’’; 

19 (II) in the matter following sub20 paragraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘wife’s, 

21 husband’s, widow’s, or widower’s’’ and 

22 inserting ‘‘spouse’s or surviving 

23 spouse’s’’; 

24 (III) in subparagraph (B), by 

25 striking ‘‘wife’s or husband’s’’ each 


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42 

•HR 98 IH

1 place such term appears and inserting 

2 ‘‘spouse’s’’; 

3 (IV) in subparagraph (C), by 

4 striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, widow’s, 

5 or widower’s’’ each place such term 

6 appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’s or 

7 surviving spouse’s’’; 

8 (V) in subparagraph (D), by 

9 striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, widow’s, 

10 or widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’s 

11 or surviving spouse’s’’; and 

12 (VI) in subparagraph (E), by 

13 striking ‘‘widow’s or widower’s’’ each 

14 place such term appears and inserting 

15 ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

16 (iii) in paragraph (5)— 

17 (I) by striking ‘‘wife’s or hus18 band’s’’ each place such word appears 

19 and inserting ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

20 (II) in subparagraph (D), by 

21 striking ‘‘widow’s or widower’s’’ and 

22 inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

23 (iv) in paragraph (6)— 


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43 

•HR 98 IH

1 (I) by striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, 

2 widow’s, or widower’s’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘spouse’s, or surviving spouse’s’’; and 

4 (II) in subparagraph (A)— 

5 (aa) in clause (ii), by strik6 ing ‘‘wife’s or husband’s’’ and in7 serting ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

8 (bb) in clause (iii), by strik9 ing ‘‘widow’s or widower’s’’ and 

10 inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

11 (v) in paragraph (7)— 

12 (I) by striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, 

13 widow’s, or widower’s’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘spouse’s, or surviving spouse’s’’; 

15 (II) by striking ‘‘wife’s or hus16 band’s’’ each place such term appears 

17 and inserting ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

18 (III) as amended by subclause 

19 (I), by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid20 ower’s’’ each place such term appears 

21 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

22 (vi) in paragraph (9)— 

23 (I) in subparagraph (A), by strik24 ing ‘‘old-age insurance benefits, wife’s 

25 insurance benefits, and husband’s inVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Jan 07, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H98.IH H98

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1 surance benefits’’ and inserting ‘‘old2 age insurance benefits and spouse’s 

3 insurance benefits’’; and 

4 (II) in subparagraph (B), by 

5 striking ‘‘widow’s insurance benefits 

6 and widower’s insurance benefits’’ and 

7 inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s insur8 ance benefits’’; and 

9 (vii) in paragraph (10)— 

10 (I) in subparagraph (A), by strik11 ing ‘‘old-age, wife’s, and husband’s’’ 

12 and inserting ‘‘old-age and spouse’s’’; 

13 and 

14 (II) by striking ‘‘widow’s and 

15 widower’s’’ each place such term ap16 pears and inserting ‘‘surviving 

17 spouse’s’’; 

18 (H) in subsection (r)— 

19 (i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Wife’s 

20 or Husband’s’’ and inserting ‘‘Spouse’s’’; 

21 (ii) in paragraph (1), by striking 

22 ‘‘wife’s or husband’s’’ each place such term 

23 appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 


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1 (iii) in paragraph (2), by striking 

2 ‘‘wife’s or husband’s’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 

4 (I) in subsection (t)(11)(B), by striking ‘‘a 

5 wife, a husband, a widow, a widower, a divorced 

6 wife, a divorced husband, a surviving divorced 

7 wife, a surviving divorced husband’’ and insert8 ing ‘‘a spouse, a surviving spouse, a surviving 

9 divorced spouse’’; 

10 (2) in section 203— 

11 (A) in subsection (c)— 

12 (i) in paragraph (2)— 

13 (I) by striking ‘‘wife or husband’’ 

14 and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

15 (II) by striking ‘‘wife’s or hus16 band’s’’ each place such term appears 

17 and inserting ‘‘spouse’s’’; 

18 (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking 

19 ‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur20 viving divorced spouse’’; and 

21 (iii) in the matter following subpara22 graph (4)— 

23 (I) by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid24 ower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

25 spouse’s’’; and 


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•HR 98 IH

1 (II) by striking ‘‘widow, surviving 

2 divorced wife, widower, or surviving 

3 divorced husband’’ and inserting ‘‘sur4 viving spouse or surviving divorced 

5 spouse’’; 

6 (B) in subsection (d)— 

7 (i) by striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, or 

8 child’s’’ each place such term appears and 

9 inserting ‘‘spouse’s or child’s’’; and 

10 (ii) by striking ‘‘wife, divorced wife, 

11 husband, divorced husband’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘spouse or divorced spouse’’; and 

13 (C) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘wid14 ow’s or widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

15 spouse’s’’; 

16 (3) in section 205— 

17 (A) in subsection (b)— 

18 (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 

19 ‘‘wife, divorced wife, widow, surviving di20 vorced wife, surviving divorced mother, 

21 surviving divorced father, husband, di22 vorced husband, widower, surviving di23 vorced husband’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse, di24 vorced spouse, surviving spouse, surviving 


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1 divorced spouse, surviving mother, sur2 viving father’’; and 

3 (ii) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking 

4 ‘‘child’s, widow’s, or widower’s’’ and insert5 ing ‘‘child’s or surviving spouse’s’’; 

6 (B) in subsection (c)(1)(C), by striking 

7 ‘‘spouse, surviving divorced wife, surviving di8 vorced husband’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse, sur9 viving divorced spouse’’; 

10 (C) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘wife or 

11 husband’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

12 (D) in subsection (j)(8), by striking 

13 ‘‘child’s, widow’s, or widower’s’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘child’s or surviving spouse’s’’; and 

15 (E) in subsection (q)(5)— 

16 (i) by striking ‘‘wife, husband or 

17 child’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse or child’’; and 

18 (ii) by striking ‘‘widow or widower’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 

20 (4) in section 215(h)— 

21 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘him, his 

22 wife, and his children, or, if he has died, to his 

23 widow and children’’ and inserting ‘‘him, his 

24 spouse, and his children, or, if he has died, to 

25 his surviving spouse and children’’; and 


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1 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

2 (i) by striking ‘‘himself, his wife, and 

3 his children’’ and inserting ‘‘himself, his 

4 spouse, and his children’’; and 

5 (ii) by striking ‘‘his widow, if any’’ 

6 and inserting ‘‘his surviving spouse, if 

7 any’’; 

8 (5) in section 216— 

9 (A) in subsection (a), by adding at the end 

10 the following new paragraph: 

11 ‘‘(3) The term ‘surviving divorced spouse’ 

12 means a surviving divorced wife or a surviving di13 vorced husband.’’; 

14 (B) in subsection (d), by adding at the end 

15 the following new paragraph: 

16 ‘‘(9) The term ‘divorced spouse’ means a di17 vorced wife or a divorced husband.’’; and 

18 (C) in subsection (l)(2)— 

19 (i) by striking ‘‘old-age, wife’s, or hus20 band’s’’ and inserting ‘‘old-age or 

21 spouse’s’’; and 

22 (ii) by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid23 ower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

24 (6) in section 222— 


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1 (A) in subsection (c)(1), by striking 

2 ‘‘202(d), 202(e), or 202(f)’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘202(d), or 202(e)’’; and 

4 (B) in subsection (d)(1)— 

5 (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 

6 ‘‘widow’s’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

7 spouse’s’’; and 

8 (ii) by striking subparagraph (D); 

9 (7) in section 225(a), by striking ‘‘or that a 

10 widow or surviving divorced wife who has not at11 tained age 60 and is entitled to benefits under sec12 tion 202(e), or that a widower or surviving divorced 

13 husband who has not attained age 60 and is entitled 

14 to benefits under section 202(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘or 

15 that a surviving spouse or surviving divorced spouse 

16 who has not attained age 60 and is entitled to bene17 fits under section 202(e)’’; 

18 (8) in section 226— 

19 (A) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(iii), by striking 

20 ‘‘widow’s insurance benefits under section 

21 202(e) or widower’s insurance benefits under 

22 section 202(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

23 spouse’s insurance benefits under section 

24 202(e)’’; 


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1 (B) in the matter following subsection 

2 (b)(2)(C)(ii)(II), by striking ‘‘in the last sen3 tence of section 202(e)(1), and in the last sen4 tence of section 202(f)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘and 

5 in the last sentence of section 202(e)(1)’’; and 

6 (C) in subsection (e)— 

7 (i) in paragraph (1)— 

8 (I) in subparagraph (A)— 

9 (aa) by striking ‘‘widows 

10 and widowers’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘surviving spouses’’; 

12 (bb) in clause (i), by striking 

13 ‘‘sections 202(e)(1)(B)(ii), 

14 202(e)(4), 202(f)(1)(B)(ii), and 

15 202(f)(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘sec16 tions 202(e)(1)(B)(ii) and 

17 202(e)(4)’’; and 

18 (cc) in clause (ii), by strik19 ing ‘‘and the phrase ‘before he 

20 attained age 60’ in the matter 

21 following subparagraph (F) of 

22 section 202(f)(1) shall each’’ and 

23 inserting ‘‘shall’’; and 


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1 (II) in subparagraph (B), by 

2 striking ‘‘widow’s or widower’s’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 

4 (ii) in paragraph (2)— 

5 (I) by striking ‘‘widow’s insur6 ance benefits or widower’s insurance 

7 benefits’’ each place such term ap8 pears and inserting ‘‘surviving 

9 spouse’s insurance benefits’’; and 

10 (II) by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid11 ower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 

12 spouse’s’’; 

13 (iii) in paragraph (3)— 

14 (I) by striking ‘‘any disabled 

15 widow aged 50 or older who is entitled 

16 to mother’s insurance benefits (and 

17 who would have been entitled to wid18 ow’s insurance benefits by reason of 

19 disability if she had filed for such wid20 ow’s benefits), and any disabled wid21 ower aged 50 or older who is entitled 

22 to father’s insurance benefits (and 

23 who would have been entitled to wid24 ower’s insurance benefits by reason of 

25 disability if he had filed for such widVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Jan 07, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H98.IH H98

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1 ower’s benefits)’’ and inserting ‘‘any 

2 disabled surviving spouse aged 50 or 

3 older who is entitled to mother’s or fa4 ther’s insurance benefits (and who 

5 would have been entitled to surviving 

6 spouse’s insurance benefits by reason 

7 of disability if he or she had filed for 

8 such surviving spouse’s benefits)’’; 

9 and 

10 (II) by striking ‘‘such widow’s or 

11 widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘such sur12 viving spouse’s’’; and 

13 (iv) in paragraph (4), by striking 

14 ‘‘widow’s or widower’s insurance benefits 

15 under section 202(e) or (f)’’ and inserting 

16 ‘‘surviving spouse’s benefits under section 

17 202(e)’’; 

18 (9) in section 227— 

19 (A) by striking ‘‘section 202(e) or section 

20 202(f)’’ each place such term appears and in21 serting ‘‘section 202(e)’’; and 

22 (B) by striking ‘‘section 202(b) or section 

23 202(c)’’ each place such term appears and in24 serting ‘‘section 202(b)’’; 

25 (10) in section 228— 


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1 (A) in subsection (c)— 

2 (i) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘hus3 band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married 

4 couple’’; 

5 (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking 

6 ‘‘husband or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married 

7 couple’’; 

8 (iii) in paragraph (6), by striking 

9 ‘‘husband and wife both of whom’’ and in10 serting ‘‘married couple of which both 

11 spouses’’; and 

12 (iv) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘of 

13 a husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘of a 

14 married couple’’; and 

15 (B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘husband 

16 or wife’’ each place such term appears and in17 serting ‘‘spouse’’; 

18 (11) in section 1107, by striking ‘‘wife, hus19 band, widow, widower, divorced wife, divorced hus20 band, surviving divorced wife, surviving divorced 

21 husband’’ each place such term appears and insert22 ing ‘‘spouse, surviving spouse, divorced spouse, sur23 viving divorced spouse’’; 

24 (12) in section 1128(j)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘hus25 band or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 


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1 (13) in section 1611(e)(3)— 

2 (A) by striking ‘‘husband and wife are’’ 

3 and inserting ‘‘married couple is’’; and 

4 (B) as amended by subparagraph (A), by 

5 striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ each place such 

6 term appears and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 

7 (14) in subsection 1614(b)— 

8 (A) by striking ‘‘husband or wife’’ and in9 serting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

10 (B) by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and 

11 inserting ‘‘a married couple’’; and 

12 (15) in section 1631(b)(1)(A)(i), by striking 

13 ‘‘husband or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 

14 (w) TITLE 1.—Section 7 of title 1, United States 

15 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘one man and one woman 

16 as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only 

17 to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife’’ 

18 and inserting ‘‘two people as spouses’’. 

19 (x) TITLE 5.—Title 5, United States Code, is amend20 ed— 

21 (1) in section 2108(3)— 

22 (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘wife 

23 or husband’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

24 (B) by amending subparagraph (F) to read 

25 as follows: 


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1 ‘‘(F) the parent of an individual who lost 

2 his life under honorable conditions while serving 

3 in the armed forces during a period named by 

4 paragraph (1)(A) of this section;’’; and 

5 (C) by amending subparagraph (G) to read 

6 as follows: 

7 ‘‘(G) the parent of a service-connected per8 manently and totally disabled veteran; and’’; 

9 (2) in section 3110(a)(3), by striking ‘‘husband, 

10 wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

11 (3) in section 5561(3)(A), by striking ‘‘wife’’ 

12 and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 

13 (4) in section 8110(a)— 

14 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

15 (i) in the matter before subparagraph 

16 (A), by striking ‘‘wife’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘spouse’’; 

18 (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

19 ‘‘she’’ and inserting ‘‘the spouse’’; 

20 (iii) in subparagraph (B)— 

21 (I) by striking ‘‘she’’ and insert22 ing ‘‘the spouse’’; and 

23 (II) by striking ‘‘her’’ and insert24 ing ‘‘the spouse’s’’; and 


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1 (iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking 

2 ‘‘her’’ and inserting ‘‘the spouse’s’’; 

3 (B) by striking paragraph (2); 

4 (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and 

5 (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and 

6 (D) as amended by subparagraph (C), in 

7 the matter following paragraph (3), by striking 

8 ‘‘paragraph (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 

9 (2)’’; 

10 (5) in section 8133, in the matter following 

11 subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘husband or wife’’ and 

12 inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 

13 (6) in the matter following section 

14 8443(b)(3)(E), by striking ‘‘wife or husband’’ each 

15 place such term appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 

16 (y) TITLE 10.—Section 701(j)(1) of title 10, United 

17 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘wife’’ and inserting 

18 ‘‘spouse’’. 

19 (z) TITLE 11.—Section 522(b)(1) of title 11, United 

20 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ 

21 and inserting ‘‘married to one another’’. 

22 (aa) TITLE 18.—Section 879(b)(1)(A) of title 18, 

23 United States Code, is amended— 

24 (1) by striking ‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 


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1 (2) by inserting after ‘‘during his’’ the fol2 lowing: ‘‘or her’’; 

3 (3) by striking ‘‘widow’’ and inserting ‘‘sur4 viving spouse’’; and 

5 (4) by inserting before ‘‘her death’’ the fol6 lowing: ‘‘his or’’. 

7 (bb) TITLE 28.—Section 3014(a) of title 28, United 

8 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ 

9 and inserting ‘‘married to one another’’. 

10 (cc) TITLE 38.—Section 101 of title 38, United 

11 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘of the opposite sex’’ 

12 each place such term appears. 

13 (dd) TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT.—Section 31 

14 of the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 31) 

15 is amended by striking ‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 

16 (ee) WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998.—Sec17 tion 101(15) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 

18 U.S.C. 2801(15)) is amended— 

19 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘husband, 

20 wife,’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; and 

21 (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘husband 

22 and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’. 

Æ 


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