I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1685 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend increased dependency 
and indemnity compensation paid to surviving spouses of veterans who 
die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, regardless of how long the veterans 
had such disease prior to death. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2025 
Mr. FITZPATRICK (for himself and Mr. PAPPAS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend increased 
dependency and indemnity compensation paid to sur-
viving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic 
lateral sclerosis, regardless of how long the veterans had 
such disease prior to death. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Justice for ALS Vet-
erans Act of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF INCREASED DEPENDENCY AND IN-
DEMNITY 
COMPENSATION 
TO 
SURVIVING 
SPOUSES OF VETERANS WHO DIE FROM 
AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1311(a)(2) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘The rate’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B) A veteran who died from amyotrophic lateral 
sclerosis shall be treated as a veteran described in sub-
paragraph (A) without regard for how long the veteran 
had such disease prior to death. 
‘‘(C) For purposes of the payment of compensation 
under this subsection by reason of the death of veteran 
described in subparagraph (B), the term ‘surviving spouse’ 
means a person who was married to the veteran for a con-
tinuous period of eight years or longer prior to the death 
of the veteran.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—Subparagraphs (B) and (C) of 
section 1311(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (a), shall apply to a veteran who dies 
from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on or after October 1, 
2025. 
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SEC. 3. REPORT ON ADDITIONAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report that 
includes an identification of any service-connected dis-
ability, other than amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, that the 
Secretary determines should be treated in the same man-
ner as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is treated under sub-
paragraphs (B) and (C) of section 1311(a)(2) of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by section 2. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) A comprehensive list of service-connected 
disabilities with high mortality rates. 
(2) Detailed information on the average life ex-
pectancy for persons with each such disability. 
Æ 
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