I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4741 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the 
amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable 
to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2014 
Mr. TIERNEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an 
increase in the amount of monthly dependency and in-
demnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
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 ‘‘Surviving Spouses’ 
Benefit Improvement Act of 2014’’. 
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SEC. 2. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF DEPENDENCY AND IN-
DEMNITY COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO SUR-
VIVING SPOUSES BY THE SECRETARY OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) INCREASE.—Section 1311 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘of 
$1,154’’ and inserting ‘‘equal to 55 percent of 
the rate of monthly compensation in effect 
under section 1114(j) of this title’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by amending the table preceding 
the matter in footnotes 1 and 2 to read as 
follows: 
‘‘Pay grade 
Monthly 
rate 
Pay grade 
Monthly 
rate 
E–1 
$1,572.03 
W–4 
$1,651.78 
E–2 
$1,572.03 
O–1 
$1,572.03 
E–3 
$1,572.03 
O–2 
$1,572.03 
E–4 
$1,572.03 
O–3 
$1,611.98 
E–5 
$1,572.03 
O–4 
$1,708.61 
E–6 
$1,572.03 
O–5 
$1,880.27 
E–7 
$1,572.03 
O–6 
$2,120.13 
E–8 
$1,572.03 
O–7 
$2,288.38 
E–9 
$1,573.331 
O–8 
$2,513.46 
W–1 
$1,572.03 
O–9 
$2,688.53 
W–2 
$1,572.03 
O–10 
$2,948.862 
W–3 
$1,572.03 
’’; 
(ii) 
in 
footnote 
1, 
by 
striking 
‘‘$1,419’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,698.38’’; and 
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(iii) 
in 
footnote 
2, 
by 
striking 
‘‘$2,643’’ and inserting ‘‘3,164.85’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) In the case of an individual who is eligible for 
dependency and indemnity compensation under this sec-
tion who is also eligible for benefits under another provi-
sion of law by reason of such individual’s status as the 
surviving spouse of a veteran, then, notwithstanding any 
other provision of law (other than section 5304(b)(3) of 
this title), neither a reduction nor an offset in benefits 
under such provision shall be made by reason of such indi-
vidual’s eligibility for benefits under this section.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to compensation 
paid under chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code, 
for months beginning after the date that is six months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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