fare, and recreational facilities in the same manner as a 
member on active duty during the two-year period begin-
ning on the later of the following dates: 
‘‘(1) The date of the separation of the member. 
‘‘(2) The date on which the member is first no-
tified of the members entitlement to benefits under 
this section.’’. 
SEC. 6. VETERANS BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES WHO RECEIVE SOLE SURVI-
VORSHIP DISCHARGE. 
(a) HOUSING LOAN BENEFITS.—Section 3702(a)(2) 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(F) Each veteran who was discharged or re-
leased from a period of active duty of 90 days or 
more by reason of a sole survivorship discharge (as 
that term is defined in section 1174(i) of title 10).’’. 
(b) EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.—Section 4211(4) 
of such title is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:29 Apr 19, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5825.IH
H5825
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
‘‘(D) was discharged or released from ac-
tive duty by reason of a sole survivorship dis-
charge (as that term is defined in section 
1174(i) of title 10).’’. 
(c) BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) 
SERVICE
ON
ACTIVE
DUTY.—Section 
3011(a)(1) of such title is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting 
after ‘‘service-connected disability,’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘by reason of a sole survivorship dis-
charge (as that term is defined in section 
1174(i) of title 10),’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting 
after ‘‘service-connected disability,’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘by reason of a sole survivorship dis-
charge (as that term is defined in section 
1174(i) of title 10),’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (C)(iii)(II), by insert-
ing after ‘‘service-connected disability,’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘by reason of a sole survivorship dis-
charge (as that term is defined in section 
1174(i) of title 10),’’. 
(2) SERVICE
IN
THE
SELECTED
RESERVE.— 
Section 3012(b)(1) of such title is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:29 Apr 19, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5825.IH
H5825
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
(i) by striking ‘‘, or (vi)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘, (vi)’’; and 
(ii) by inserting before the period at 
the end the following: ‘‘, or (vii) by reason 
of a sole survivorship discharge (as that 
term is defined in section 1174(i) of title 
10)’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in clause (i), by inserting after 
‘‘service-connected 
disability,’’ 
the 
fol-
lowing: ‘‘by reason of a sole survivorship 
discharge (as that term is defined in sec-
tion 1174(i) of title 10),’’; and 
(ii) in clause (ii)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘, or (VI)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘, (VI)’’; and 
(II) by inserting before the pe-
riod at the end the following: ‘‘, or 
(VII) by reason of a sole survivorship 
discharge (as that term is defined in 
section 1174(i) of title 10)’’. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:29 Apr 19, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5825.IH
H5825
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
SEC. 7. UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO RECEIVE SOLE 
SURVIVORSHIP DISCHARGE. 
Section 8521(a)(1)(B)(ii)(III) of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘hardship,’’ and in-
serting ‘‘hardship (including pursuant to a sole survivor-
ship discharge, as that term is defined in section 1174(i) 
of title 10),’’. 
SEC. 8. PREFERENCE-ELIGIBLE STATUS FOR MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES WHO RECEIVE SOLE 
SURVIVORSHIP DISCHARGE. 
Section 2108(3) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (G), by inserting ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(H) a veteran who was discharged or re-
leased from a period of active duty by reason of 
a sole survivorship discharge (as that term is 
defined in section 1174(i) of title 10);’’. 
SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as 
provided in subsection (b), this Act and the amendments 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:29 Apr 19, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5825.IH
H5825
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
made by this Act shall apply with respect to any sole survi-
vorship discharge granted after September 11, 2001. 
(b) DATE OF ENACTMENT EFFECTIVE DATE FOR 
CERTAIN AMENDMENTS.—The amendments made by sec-
tions 4, 6(c), 7, and 8 shall apply with respect to any sole 
survivorship discharge granted after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(c) SOLE SURVIVORSHIP DISCHARGE DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘sole survivorship discharge’’ means 
the separation of a member from the Armed Forces, at 
the request of the member, pursuant to the Department 
of Defense policy permitting the early separation of a 
member who is the only surviving child in a family in 
which— 
(1) the father or mother or one or more sib-
lings— 
(A) served in the armed forces; and 
(B) was killed, died as a result of wounds, 
accident, or disease, is in a captured or missing 
in action status, or is permanently 100 percent 
disabled or hospitalized on a continuing basis 
(and is not employed gainfully because of the 
disability or hospitalization); and 
(2) the death, status, or disability did not result 
from the intentional misconduct or willful neglect of 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:29 Apr 19, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5825.IH
H5825
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
the parent or sibling and was not incurred during a 
period of unauthorized absence. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:29 Apr 19, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5825.IH
H5825
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS