I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2053 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the different treatment 
under the Survivor Benefit Plan accorded members of the reserve compo-
nents who die from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the 
line of duty during inactive-duty training compared to members of the 
Armed Forces who die in the line of duty while on active duty. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 28, 2015 
Mr. CHAFFETZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the 
different treatment under the Survivor Benefit Plan ac-
corded members of the reserve components who die from 
an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line 
of duty during inactive-duty training compared to mem-
bers of the Armed Forces who die in the line of duty 
while on active duty. 
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 ‘‘Military Reserve Sur-
vivor Benefit Equity Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. EQUAL BENEFITS UNDER SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN 
FOR SURVIVORS OF RESERVE COMPONENT 
MEMBERS WHO DIE IN THE LINE OF DUTY 
DURING INACTIVE-DUTY TRAINING. 
(a) TREATMENT OF INACTIVE-DUTY TRAINING IN 
SAME MANNER AS ACTIVE DUTY.—Section 1451(c)(1)(A) 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in clause (i)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or 1448(f)’’ after ‘‘sec-
tion 1448(d)’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or (iii)’’ after ‘‘clause 
(ii)’’; and 
(2) in clause (iii)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘section 1448(f) of this 
title’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1448(f)(1)(A) of 
this title by reason of the death of a member 
or former member not in line of duty’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘active service’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘service’’. 
(b) CONSISTENT TREATMENT OF DEPENDENT CHIL-
DREN.—Paragraph (2) of section 1448(f) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) DEPENDENT CHILDREN ANNUITY.— 
‘‘(A) ANNUITY WHEN NO ELIGIBLE SUR-
VIVING SPOUSE.—In the case of a person de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the Secretary con-
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cerned shall pay an annuity under this sub-
chapter to the dependent children of that per-
son under section 1450(a)(2) of this title as ap-
plicable. 
‘‘(B) OPTIONAL ANNUITY WHEN THERE IS 
AN
ELIGIBLE
SURVIVING
SPOUSE.—The Sec-
retary may pay an annuity under this sub-
chapter to the dependent children of a person 
described in paragraph (1) under section 
1450(a)(3) of this title, if applicable, instead of 
paying an annuity to the surviving spouse 
under paragraph (1), if the Secretary con-
cerned, in consultation with the surviving 
spouse, determines it appropriate to provide an 
annuity for the dependent children under this 
paragraph instead of an annuity for the sur-
viving spouse under paragraph (1).’’. 
(c) DEEMED ELECTIONS.—Section 1448(f) of title 
10, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) DEEMED ELECTION TO PROVIDE AN AN-
NUITY
FOR
DEPENDENT.—Paragraph (6) of sub-
section (d) shall apply in the case of a member de-
scribed in paragraph (1) who dies after November 
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23, 2003, when no other annuity is payable on be-
half of the member under this subchapter.’’. 
(d) AVAILABILITY OF SPECIAL SURVIVOR INDEMNITY 
ALLOWANCE.—Section 1450(m)(1)(B) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or (f)’’ after ‘‘sub-
section (d)’’. 
(e) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) PAYMENT.—No annuity benefit under sub-
chapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States 
Code, shall accrue to any person by reason of the 
amendments made by this section for any period be-
fore the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) ELECTIONS.—For any death that occurred 
before the date of the enactment of this Act with re-
spect to which an annuity under such subchapter is 
being paid (or could be paid) to a surviving spouse, 
the Secretary concerned may, within six months of 
that date and in consultation with the surviving 
spouse, determine it appropriate to provide an annu-
ity for the dependent children of the decedent under 
paragraph 1448(f)(2)(B) of title 10, as added by 
subsection (b)(1), instead of an annuity for the sur-
viving spouse. Any such determination and resulting 
change in beneficiary shall be effective as of the first 
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day of the first month following the date of the de-
termination. 
Æ 
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