I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2976 
To replace references to ‘‘wives’’ and ‘‘husbands’’ in Federal law with 
references to ‘‘spouses’’, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 8, 2015 
Mrs. CAPPS (for herself, Mr. BEYER, Ms. DELBENE, Ms. EDWARDS, Mr. 
FARR, Mr. HINOJOSA, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. LEE, Mr. LOWENTHAL, 
Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MURPHY of Florida, Ms. NORTON, Mr. SMITH of 
Washington, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. POCAN, Mr. 
THOMPSON of California, Ms. TSONGAS, Mr. BERA, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. 
DESAULNIER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. ENGEL, and Mr. 
HONDA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To replace references to ‘‘wives’’ and ‘‘husbands’’ in Federal 
law with references to ‘‘spouses’’, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Amend the Code for 
Marriage Equality Act of 2015’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS. 
(a) ACT OF AUGUST 16, 1941.—Section 2(b) of the 
Act of August 16, 1941, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide com-
pensation for disability or death to persons employed at 
military, air, and naval bases outside the United States.’’ 
(42 U.S.C. 1652(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘wife’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 
(b) ACT OF AUGUST 4, 1955.—Section 43(a) of the 
Act of August 4, 1955, entitled ‘‘An Act to direct the Sec-
retary of Agriculture to release on behalf of the United 
States conditions in two deeds conveying certain submar-
ginal lands to Clemson Agricultural College of South 
Carolina so as to permit such college, subject to certain 
conditions, to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of such 
lands.’’ (42 U.S.C. 2333(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’. 
(c) ACT OF DECEMBER 2, 1942.—Section 101(c) of 
the Act of December 2, 1942, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide 
compensation for the injury, disability, death, or enemy 
detention of employees of contractors with the United 
States, and for other purposes.’’ (42 U.S.C. 1701(c)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘wife or husband’’ each place such 
term appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 
(d) ACT OF FEBRUARY 28, 1891.—Section 5 of the 
Act of February 28, 1891 (25 U.S.C. 371), is amended 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married 
couple’’. 
(e) ACT OF SEPTEMBER 2, 1960.—The Act of Sep-
tember 2, 1960, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for continued 
delivery of water under the Federal reclamation laws to 
lands held by husband and wife upon the death of either’’ 
(43 U.S.C. 423h) is amended— 
(1) in the title, by striking ‘‘husband and wife 
upon the death of either’’ and inserting ‘‘a married 
couple upon the death of either spouse’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘husband or wife’’ and inserting 
‘‘married person’’. 
(f) CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY
ACT
OF 
1949.—The Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in the heading of section 16(c), by striking 
‘‘Wives or Husbands’’ and inserting ‘‘Spouses’’; and 
(2) in section 19(b)(4), by striking ‘‘widow or 
widower, former spouse, and/or a child or children as 
defined in section 204 and section 232 of the Cen-
tral Intelligence Agency Retirement Act of 1964 for 
Certain Employees’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse, 
former spouse, or child as defined in section 102 of 
the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(g) CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY RETIREMENT 
ACT.—The Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act 
(50 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 221(d)(5), by striking ‘‘former 
wife or husband of’’ and inserting ‘‘person who has 
been, but is no longer, married to’’; 
(2) in section 232(c)(3), by striking ‘‘former 
wife or husband of’’ and inserting ‘‘person who has 
been, but is no longer, married to’’; 
(3) in section 241— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (2), by inserting after 
‘‘former spouse’’ the following: ‘‘(as de-
fined under section 102)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) in the heading, by striking 
‘‘wife or husband’’ and inserting 
‘‘spouse other than as defined under 
section 102’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘former wife or 
husband of the former participant’’ 
and inserting ‘‘person who has been, 
but is no longer, married to the 
former participant, but who is not a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
former spouse as defined under suc-
tion 102’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking 
‘‘former wife or husband’’ and inserting 
‘‘person’’; 
(B) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘sur-
viving wife or husband of such participant’’ and 
inserting ‘‘person who was married to such par-
ticipant at the participant’s death’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (d)(2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘surviving former 
spouse or surviving former wife or husband 
of such participant’’ and inserting ‘‘per-
son’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘to such former spouse 
or former wife or husband’’ and inserting 
‘‘under such paragraph’’; and 
(4) in section 304(d)(2), by striking ‘‘widow or 
widower’’ each place such term appears and insert-
ing ‘‘surviving spouse’’. 
(h) ENERGY EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS 
COMPENSATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2000.—The Energy 
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program 
Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq.) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) in section 3628(e)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘wife 
or husband of that individual’’ and inserting ‘‘per-
son’’; and 
(2) in section 3630(e)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘wife 
or husband of that individual’’ and inserting ‘‘per-
son’’. 
(i) ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1978.—Section 
109(16) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 
U.S.C. App. 109(16)) is amended by striking ‘‘husband, 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 
(j) FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT OF 1993.— 
Section 102(f) of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 
1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612(f)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘husband and 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘that 
husband 
and 
wife’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘such 
spouses’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’. 
(k) FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT OF 1971.— 
Section 313(c)(3)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30114(c)(3)(B)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘husband, wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(l) FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT OF 
1977.—The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 402— 
(A) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘wife who is a member 
of the same household of the miner’’ and 
inserting ‘‘spouse who is a member of the 
same household as the miner’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘miner for her sup-
port’’ and inserting ‘‘miner for his or her 
support’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘whose husband is a 
miner who has been ordered by a court to 
contribute to her support’’ and inserting 
‘‘for whose support the miner has been or-
dered by a court to contribute’’; 
(iv) by striking ‘‘216(b) (1) or (2)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘216(b)(1) or (2)’’; 
(v) by striking ‘‘status as the ‘wife’ of 
a miner’’ and inserting ‘‘status as the 
‘spouse’ of a miner’’; 
(vi) by striking ‘‘ ‘wife’ also includes a 
‘divorced wife’ as defined in section 
216(d)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘ ‘spouse’ also in-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
cludes a ‘divorced spouse’ as defined in 
section 216(d)(9)’’; 
(vii) by striking ‘‘one-half of her sup-
port’’ and inserting ‘‘half of his or her sup-
port’’; and 
(viii) by inserting ‘‘his or’’ before ‘‘her 
support from such miner’’; and 
(B) in subsection (e)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘widow includes the 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse in-
cludes the spouse’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘individual’s status as 
the ‘widow’ ’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s 
status as the ‘surviving spouse’ ’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘surviving divorced 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving divorced 
spouse’’; and 
(iv) by inserting ‘‘his or’’ before ‘‘her’’ 
each place such term appears; 
(2) in section 411(c)(4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘widow’s,’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse’s,’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘wife’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘spouse’s’’; and 
(3) in section 413(b)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) by striking ‘‘wife’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘widow,’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse,’’. 
(m) FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1980.—The Foreign 
Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in the item relating to the first section 830 
in the table of contents, by striking ‘‘wives and hus-
bands’’ and inserting ‘‘spouses’’; 
(2) in section 804— 
(A) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘former 
wife or husband of a participant or former par-
ticipant’’ and inserting ‘‘person’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (13), by striking ‘‘sur-
viving wife or husband of a participant or annu-
itant who was married to the’’ and inserting 
‘‘person who was married to a’’; 
(3) in section 815(f)(2), by striking ‘‘wife or 
husband’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(4) in the first section 830 (relating to qualified 
former wives and husbands)— 
(A) in the heading of such section, by 
striking ‘‘former wives and husbands’’ and in-
serting ‘‘spouses’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘quali-
fied former wife or husband’’ and inserting 
‘‘qualified former spouse’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘former 
wife or husband’’ each place such term occurs 
and inserting ‘‘former spouse’’. 
(n) IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT.—The Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is 
amended— 
(1) 
in 
section 
101(a)(35) 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1101(a)(35))— 
(A) by striking ‘‘, ‘wife’, or ‘husband’ ’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, wife, or husband’’; 
(2) in section 202(b) (8 U.S.C. 1152(b)), by 
striking 
‘‘husband 
and 
wife’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘spouses’’; 
(3) in section 278 (8 U.S.C. 1328), by striking 
‘‘a husband or wife shall be admissible and com-
petent evidence against each other’’ and inserting 
‘‘an individual shall be admissible and competent 
evidence against such individual’s spouse’’; and 
(4) in section 283 (8 U.S.C. 1353), by striking 
‘‘wives’’ and inserting ‘‘spouses’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(o) INDIAN LAND CONSOLIDATION ACT.—Section 
207(j)(3)(A)(ii) of the Indian Land Consolidation Act (25 
U.S.C. 2206) is amended by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the participants as spouses’’. 
(p) INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.—The Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) in the matter following section 21(d)(2)(B), 
by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘mar-
ried couple’’; 
(2) in section 22(e)(1), by striking ‘‘husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(3) in section 38(c)(6)(A), by striking ‘‘husband 
or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 
(4) in section 42(j)(5)(C)— 
(A) in the heading of clause (i), by striking 
‘‘Husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘Married 
couple’’; and 
(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘a husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married couple’’; 
(5) in section 62(b)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(6) in section 121— 
(A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife make’’ and inserting ‘‘married 
couple makes’’; 
(7) in section 165(h)(4)(B), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(8) in section 179(b)(4), by striking ‘‘husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(9) in section 213(d)(8), by striking ‘‘husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married couple’’; 
(10) in section 219(g)(4), by striking ‘‘A hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘Spouses’’; 
(11) in section 274(b)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(12) in the matter following section 643(f)(2), 
by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘mar-
ried couple’’; 
(13) in section 682— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘wife’’ 
and inserting ‘‘recipient’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘gross income of a 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘gross income of an in-
dividual’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(iii) by striking ‘‘separated from her 
husband’’ and inserting ‘‘separated from 
his or her spouse’’; 
(iv) by striking ‘‘such wife is entitled 
to receive’’ and inserting ‘‘such person is 
entitled to receive’’; 
(v) by striking ‘‘gross income of her 
husband’’ and inserting ‘‘gross income of 
his or her spouse’’; 
(vi) by striking ‘‘gross income of such 
husband’’ and inserting ‘‘gross income of 
such spouse’’; and 
(vii) by striking ‘‘minor children of 
such husband’’ and inserting ‘‘minor chil-
dren of such spouse’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Wife’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Recipient’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘a wife to whom sub-
section (a) applies’’ and inserting ‘‘an indi-
vidual who receives income from a trust to 
which subsection (a) applies’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘such wife’’ and in-
serting ‘‘such individual’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(14) in section 761(f), by striking ‘‘husband 
and wife’’ each place such term appears and insert-
ing ‘‘married couple’’; 
(15) in section 911— 
(A) in subsection (b)(2)(C)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘husband or wife’’ and 
inserting ‘‘member of a married couple’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ 
and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d)(9), by striking ‘‘a 
husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘the members 
of a married couple’’; 
(16) in section 1244(b)(2), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(17) in section 1272(a)(2)(E)(iii)— 
(A) in the heading of such clause, by strik-
ing ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married 
couple’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and 
inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(18) in section 1313(c)(1), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 
(19) in section 1361(c)(1)(A)(i), by striking 
‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(20) in the heading of section 2040(b), by strik-
ing ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouses’’; 
(21) in the item relating to section 2513 in the 
table of contents for subchapter B of chapter 12 of 
subtitle B, by striking ‘‘husband or wife’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘spouse’’; 
(22) in the heading of section 2513, by striking 
‘‘husband or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 
(23) in section 2516, by striking ‘‘a husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘the members of a married 
couple’’; 
(24) in section 5733(d)(2), by striking ‘‘a hus-
band or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 
(25) in the item relating to section 6013 in the 
table of contents for subpart B of part II of sub-
chapter A of chapter 61 of subtitle F, by striking 
‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(26) in section 6013— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(B) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and 
inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the 
husband or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 
and 
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
‘‘husband 
and 
wife’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘spouses’’; 
(C) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘filed by the husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘filed by the mar-
ried couple’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the return of the hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘the return 
of both spouses’’; 
(D) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘the hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘the spouses’’; 
and 
(E) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married cou-
ple’’; 
(27) in the matter following section 6014(b)(4), 
by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a 
married couple’’; 
(28) in section 6017, by striking ‘‘husband and 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(29) in section 6096(a), by striking ‘‘husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married couple’’; 
(30) in section 6166(b)(2)(B)— 
(A) in the heading of such subparagraph, 
by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting 
‘‘a married couple’’; 
(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘husband and 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; and 
(C) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘husband and 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
(31) in section 6212(b)(2), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married couple’’; 
(32) in section 6231(a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking ‘‘a 
husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘a married 
couple’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (12)— 
(i) by amending the heading to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(12) SPOUSES.—’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘a husband and wife’’ 
and inserting ‘‘spouses’’; 
(33) in section 7428(c)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘hus-
band and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(34) in section 7701(a), by amending para-
graph (17) to read as follows: 
‘‘(17) DIVORCED
SPOUSES.—As used in sec-
tions 682 and 2516, if the married couple therein 
referred to are divorced, wherever appropriate to the 
meaning of such sections the term ‘spouse’ shall be 
read ‘former spouse’ and the term ‘married couple’ 
shall be read ‘former married couple’.’’; and 
(35) in section 7872(f)(7)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘Married couple’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and 
inserting ‘‘married couple’’. 
(q) LONGSHORE
AND HARBOR WORKERS’ COM-
PENSATION ACT.—The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ 
Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 2(16), by striking ‘‘wife or hus-
band’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 
(2) in section 5(a), by striking ‘‘husband or 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 
(3) in section 8(d)(1)(D), by striking ‘‘wife, 
husband,’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(4) in section 9— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘wife or 
husband’’ each place such term appears and in-
serting ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(B) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘wife’’ 
each place such term appears and inserting 
‘‘spouse’’. 
(r) NATIONAL HOUSING ACT.—Section 527(a) of the 
National Housing Act (8 U.S.C. 1735f–5(a)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouses’’. 
(s) ACT OF SEPTEMBER 5, 1962.—Section 3(c) of the 
Act of September 5, 1962, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide 
for the division of the tribal assets of the Ponca Tribe 
of Native Americans of Nebraska among the members of 
the tribe, and for other purposes.’’ (25 U.S.C. 973(c)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 
(t) RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT
OF 1974.—The 
Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 231 et seq.) 
is amended— 
(1) in section 2— 
(A) in subsection (c)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)(ii), by striking 
‘‘(C), in the case of a wife, has in her care 
(individually or jointly with her husband)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(C) has in his or her care 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(individually or jointly with his or her 
spouse)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘di-
vorced wife’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘divorced spouse’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘(i)’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘; and (ii) in the 
case of a husband, was receiving at 
least one-half of his support from his 
wife at the time his wife’s annuity 
under subsection (a)(1) began’’; 
(iv) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘di-
vorced wife’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘divorced spouse’’; and 
(v) in the matter following paragraph 
(4), by striking ‘‘divorced wife’s annuity’’ 
and inserting ‘‘divorced spouse’s annuity’’; 
(B) in subsection (d)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) in clause (i)— 
(aa) by striking ‘‘a widow 
(as defined in section 216 (c) and 
(k) of the Social Security Act) or 
widower (as defined in section 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
216 (g) and (k) of the Social Se-
curity Act)’’ and inserting ‘‘a 
surviving spouse (as defined in 
section 216(a) of the Social Secu-
rity Act)’’; and 
(bb) by striking ‘‘, and who, 
in the case of a widower, was re-
ceiving at least one-half his sup-
port from the deceased employee 
at the time of her death or at the 
time her annuity under sub-
section (a)(1) began’’; 
(II) in clause (ii)— 
(aa) by striking ‘‘a widow 
(as defined in section 216 (c) and 
(k) of the Social Security Act)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘a surviving spouse 
(as defined in section 216(a) of 
the Social Security Act)’’; and 
(bb) by inserting ‘‘his or’’ 
before ‘‘her’’; 
(III) in clause (iv), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse’’; and 
(IV) in clause (v)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(aa) by striking ‘‘The widow 
(as defined in section 216(c) of 
the Social Security Act)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the surviving spouse (as 
defined in section 216(a) of the 
Social Security Act)’’; 
(bb) by striking ‘‘wife (as 
defined in section 216(d)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘spouse (as defined in 
section 216(a)’’; 
(cc) by striking ‘‘mother (as 
defined’’ and inserting ‘‘parent 
(as defined’’; 
(dd) by striking ‘‘widow, 
surviving divorced wife, or sur-
viving divorced mother’’ each 
place such term appears and in-
serting ‘‘surviving spouse, sur-
viving divorced spouse, or sur-
viving divorced parent’’; and 
(ee) by striking ‘‘202(f)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘202(e)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘, (B) in the case 
of a widow, the last month for which 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
she was entitled to an annuity under 
paragraph (ii) of subdivision (1) as 
the widow of the deceased employee,’’; 
and 
(II) by striking ‘‘widow or wid-
ower’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘surviving 
spouse’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (3), by striking 
‘‘widow, widower, or child’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse or child’’; and 
(iv) in paragraph (4)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘wife, husband, 
widow, 
widower’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘spouse, surviving spouse’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘or (c)’’; 
(III) by striking ‘‘subsection, (e), 
(f), or (g)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(e) or (g)’’; and 
(IV) 
by 
striking 
‘‘202(d)(7)(c)(i)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘202(d)(7)(C)(i)’’; 
(C) in subsection (e)(5), by striking ‘‘di-
vorced wife’’ and inserting ‘‘divorced spouse’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(D) in subsection (f)(2), by striking 
‘‘wife’s’’ each place such term appears and in-
serting ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 
(E) in subsection (h)(3), by striking ‘‘wife’’ 
and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 
(2) in section 3— 
(A) in subsection (f)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘wife’s 
or 
husband’s’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘spouse’s’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(B) in subsection (h)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘wife, husband, widow, 
or widower’’ each place such term appears 
and 
inserting 
‘‘spouse 
or 
surviving 
spouse’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, 
widow’s, or widower’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘spouse’s or surviving spouse’s’’; 
(3) in section 4— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(I) by striking ‘‘divorced wife’’ 
each place such term appears and in-
serting ‘‘divorced spouse’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘wife’s insurance 
benefit or the husband’s insurance 
benefit’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’s in-
surance benefit’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 202(a), section 202(b), or section 
202(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 202(a) or 
section 202(c)’’; 
(B) in subsection (e)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘wife’s or husband’s in-
surance benefit’’ each place such term ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘spouse’s insurance 
benefit’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking 
‘‘wife’s and husband’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘spouse’s’’; 
(C) in subsection (f)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘widow’s insur-
ance benefit, widower’s insurance ben-
efit, mother’s insurance benefits, par-
ent’s insurance benefit, or child’s in-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
surance benefit’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’s insurance benefit, par-
ent’s insurance benefit, or child’s in-
surance benefit’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘widow or wid-
ower’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘surviving 
spouse’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘widow’s insur-
ance benefit or widower’s insurance 
benefit payable under section 202(e) 
or 202(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 
spouse’s insurance benefit payable 
under section 202(e)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘widow or wid-
ower’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(II) in clause (ii), by striking 
‘‘widow’s insurance benefit, a wid-
ower’s insurance benefit, or’’ and in-
serting ‘‘surviving spouse’s benefit 
or’’; and 
(III) in clause (iii), by striking 
‘‘widow, surviving divorced wife, or 
surviving divorced mother’’ and insert-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
ing ‘‘surviving spouse, surviving di-
vorced spouse, or surviving divorced 
parent’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (3), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’’; 
(D) in subsection (g)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)(i), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term 
appears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (4)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘widow or wid-
ower’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid-
ower’s’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (5), by striking 
‘‘widow, surviving divorced wife, or sur-
viving divorced mother’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving 
spouse, 
surviving 
divorced 
spouse, or surviving divorced parent’’; and 
(iv) in paragraph (10)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(I) by striking ‘‘widow or wid-
ower’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid-
ower’s’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 
and 
(III) in clause (ii), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 
(E) in subsection (h)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘widow or wid-
ower’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘widow’s or wid-
ower’s’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 
and 
(III) by striking ‘‘or 202(f)’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
‘‘widow, surviving divorced wife, or sur-
viving divorced mother’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving 
spouse, 
surviving 
divorced 
spouse, or surviving divorced parent’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(F) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘spouse 
or divorced wife’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘spouse or divorced spouse’’; 
(4) in section 5— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘wife, 
husband, widow, or widower’’ and inserting 
‘‘spouse or surviving spouse’’; and 
(ii) in clause (vii), by striking ‘‘wife’s 
or husband’s’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’s’’; 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘widow 
or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c)— 
(i) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘wife’’ each place 
such term appears and inserting 
‘‘spouse’’; and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘his or’’ before 
‘‘her’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (5), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(iv) in paragraph (6)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘widow’’ and in-
serting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘she dies’’ and 
inserting 
‘‘such 
surviving 
spouse 
dies’’; 
(III) by striking ‘‘she remarries’’ 
and inserting ‘‘such surviving spouse 
remarries’’; and 
(IV) by striking ‘‘she no longer’’ 
and inserting ‘‘such surviving spouse 
no longer’’; and 
(v) in paragraph (9)(B), by striking 
‘‘widow’s or widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’s’’; 
(5) in section 6— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term 
appears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term 
appears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (3)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(I) by striking ‘‘wife’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘wife’s’’ and in-
serting ‘‘spouse’s’’; 
(iv) in paragraph (6), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’’; and 
(v) in paragraph (7), by striking 
‘‘widow, widower’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 
spouse’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘widow surviving 
divorced wife, widower’’ and inserting 
‘‘no surviving spouse, surviving di-
vorced spouse’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘widow or wid-
ower’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(C) in subsection (c)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(I) by striking ‘‘widow, widower, 
or parent’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving 
spouse or parent’’; 
(II) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(III) in clause (ii), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(IV) in clause (iii), by striking 
‘‘widow, widower, or child’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘surviving spouse or child’’; 
(V) in clause (iv), by striking 
‘‘widow, widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’’; 
(VI) in clause (v), by striking 
‘‘widow, widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’’; 
(VII) in clause (vi), by striking 
‘‘widow, widower’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’’; and 
(VIII) in the matter following 
clause (vi), by striking ‘‘widow, wid-
ower, or parent’’ each place such term 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
appears 
and 
inserting 
‘‘surviving 
spouse or parent’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) in subparagraph (A), by strik-
ing ‘‘divorced wife’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving divorced spouse’’; 
(II) in subparagraph (B), by 
striking ‘‘widow’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’’; and 
(III) in the matter following sub-
paragraph (B), by striking ‘‘divorced 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘survivor’’; 
(D) in subsection (d)(1), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; and 
(E) in subsection (e)(1), by striking 
‘‘widow or widower’’ each place such term ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(6) in section 7— 
(A) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by striking 
‘‘wife or divorced wife or husband’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘spouse or divorced spouse’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d)(2)(i), by striking ‘‘in 
the case of a spouse or divorced wife, had such 
spouse’s husband or wife’’ and inserting ‘‘in the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
case of a spouse or divorced spouse, had such 
person’s spouse’’; and 
(7) in section 19(a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘wife’s insurance benefits 
payable to a wife, husband’s insurance benefits’’ 
and inserting ‘‘spouse’s insurance benefits’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘widow’s insurance benefits 
payable to a widow, widower’s insurance bene-
fits, mother’s insurance benefits payable to a 
widow’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s bene-
fits payable to a surviving spouse, parent’s in-
surance benefits payable to a surviving spouse’’. 
(u) SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958.— 
Section 503(a)(2) of the Small Business Investment Act 
of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 697(a)(2)) is amended by striking 
‘‘wife, husband’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 
(v) SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.—The Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 202— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) 
in 
the 
heading, 
by 
striking 
‘‘Wife’s’’ and inserting ‘‘Spouse’s’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘wife’’ each place such 
term appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(iii) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘(as defined in 
section 216(b))’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘(as defined in 
section 216(d))’’; 
(III) in subparagraph (B), by 
striking ‘‘her’’ and inserting ‘‘such 
spouse’s’’; 
(IV) in subparagraph (D)(i), by 
striking ‘‘she’’ and inserting ‘‘such 
spouse or divorced spouse’’; 
(V) in the matter following sub-
paragraph (D)(ii)(II), by inserting be-
fore ‘‘she’’ each place such word ap-
pears the following: ‘‘he or’’; 
(VI) in subparagraph (E), by 
striking ‘‘she’’ and inserting ‘‘such 
spouse’’; 
(VII) in subparagraph (G), by 
striking ‘‘she’’ each place such term 
appears and inserting ‘‘such spouse’’; 
(VIII) in subparagraph (H), by 
inserting ‘‘he or’’ before ‘‘she’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(IX) in subparagraph (J), by 
striking ‘‘she’’ and inserting ‘‘such 
spouse’’; and 
(iv) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by inserting before ‘‘her’’ 
each place such term appears ‘‘his 
or’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘husband’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting 
‘‘spouse’’; 
(B) by striking subsection (c); 
(C) in subsection (e)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Wid-
ow’s’’ and inserting ‘‘Surviving spouse’s’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) in the matter preceding sub-
paragraph (A)— 
(aa) by striking ‘‘widow (as 
defined in section 216(c))’’ and 
inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(bb) by striking ‘‘wife (as 
defined in section 216(d))’’ and 
inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(cc) by striking ‘‘widow or 
surviving divorced wife’’ and in-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
serting ‘‘surviving spouse or sur-
viving divorced spouse’’; 
(II) in subparagraph (C)— 
(aa) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘widow’s’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’s’’; 
(bb) in clause (ii)— 
(AA) in the matter pre-
ceding 
subclause 
(I), 
by 
striking ‘‘wife’s’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 
(BB) in subclause (III), 
by inserting ‘‘he or’’ before 
‘‘she’’ and by inserting ‘‘him 
or’’ before ‘‘her’’; and 
(cc) in clause (iii), by insert-
ing ‘‘father’s or’’ before ‘‘moth-
er’s’’; 
(III) in the matter preceding sub-
paragraph (E), by striking ‘‘widow’s’’ 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s’’; 
(IV) in subparagraph (E), by in-
serting before ‘‘she’’ each place such 
word appears the following: ‘‘he or’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(V) in subparagraph (F), by in-
serting before ‘‘she’’ each place such 
word appears the following: ‘‘he or’’; 
and 
(VI) in the matter following sub-
paragraph (F)(ii) by inserting before 
‘‘she’’ each place such word appears 
the following: ‘‘he or’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘widow’s insur-
ance’’ each place such term appears 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’s in-
surance’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘surviving di-
vorced wife’’ each place such term ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘surviving di-
vorced spouse’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘widow’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(iv) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘widow’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(II) by striking ‘‘surviving di-
vorced wife’’ each place such term ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘surviving di-
vorced spouse’’; and 
(III) by inserting ‘‘he or’’ before 
‘‘she’’; 
(v) in paragraph (4)— 
(I) by inserting before ‘‘her’’ 
each place such term appears the fol-
lowing: ‘‘his or’’; 
(II) by inserting before ‘‘she’’ 
each place such term appears the fol-
lowing ‘‘he or’’; 
(III) by striking ‘‘widow or sur-
viving divorced wife’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse or surviving di-
vorced spouse’’; and 
(IV) in subparagraph (B), by in-
serting ‘‘or father’s’’ before ‘‘insur-
ance’’; 
(vi) in paragraph (5)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘widow or sur-
viving divorced wife’’ each place such 
term appears and inserting ‘‘surviving 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
spouse or surviving divorced spouse’’; 
and 
(II) in subparagraph (A)— 
(aa) in clause (i), by insert-
ing ‘‘he or’’ before ‘‘she’’; and 
(bb) in clause (ii)(I), by in-
serting ‘‘his or’’ before ‘‘her’’; 
and 
(vii) in the matter following para-
graph (7)(B), by striking ‘‘she’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘such individual’’; 
(D) by striking subsection (f); 
(E) in the matter following subsection 
(i)(2), by striking ‘‘wife’s or husband’s’’ and in-
serting ‘‘spouse’s’’; 
(F) in subsection (j)(4)(B)(i)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘widow, surviving di-
vorced wife or widower’’ and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse or surviving divorced 
spouse’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘widow or widower’’ 
and inserting ‘‘surviving spouse’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘surviving divorced 
wife’’ and inserting ‘‘surviving divorced 
spouse’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(G) in subsection (q)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, 
widow’s, or widower’s’’ and inserting 
‘‘spouse’s, or surviving spouse’s’’; and 
(II) in subparagraph (A)— 
(aa) by striking ‘‘wife’s or 
husband’s’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘spouse’s’’; and 
(bb) by striking ‘‘widow’s or 
widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’s’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) in subparagraph (A)— 
(aa) by striking ‘‘wife’s, hus-
band’s, widow’s, or widower’s’’ 
and inserting ‘‘spouse’s or sur-
viving spouse’s’’; 
(bb) by striking ‘‘wife’s or 
husband’s’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘spouse’s’’; and 
(cc) by striking ‘‘widow’s or 
widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’s’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(II) in the matter following sub-
paragraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘wife’s, 
husband’s, widow’s, or widower’s’’ and 
inserting 
‘‘spouse’s 
or 
surviving 
spouse’s’’; 
(III) in subparagraph (B), by 
striking ‘‘wife’s or husband’s’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting 
‘‘spouse’s’’; 
(IV) in subparagraph (C), by 
striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, widow’s, 
or widower’s’’ each place such term 
appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’s or 
surviving spouse’s’’; 
(V) in subparagraph (D), by 
striking ‘‘wife’s, husband’s, widow’s, 
or widower’s’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’s 
or surviving spouse’s’’; and 
(VI) in subparagraph (E), by 
striking ‘‘widow’s or widower’s’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting 
‘‘surviving spouse’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (5)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(I) by striking ‘‘she’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the spouse’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘her’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the spouse’s’’; and 
(iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘her’’ and inserting ‘‘the spouse’s’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2); 
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and 
(4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and 
(D) as amended by subparagraph (C), in 
the matter following paragraph (3), by striking 
‘‘paragraph (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 
(2)’’; 
(5) in section 8133, in the matter following 
subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘husband or wife’’ and 
inserting ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(6) 
in 
the 
matter 
following 
section 
8443(b)(3)(E), by striking ‘‘wife or husband’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 
(y) TITLE 10.—Section 701(j)(1) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘wife’’ and inserting 
‘‘spouse’’. 
(z) TITLE 11.—Section 522(b)(1) of title 11, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ 
and inserting ‘‘married to one another’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(aa) TITLE 18.—Section 879(b)(1)(A) of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’; 
(2) by inserting after ‘‘during his’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘or her’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘widow’’ and inserting ‘‘sur-
viving spouse’’; and 
(4) by inserting before ‘‘her death’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘his or’’. 
(bb) TITLE 28.—Section 3014(a) of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘husband and wife’’ 
and inserting ‘‘married to one another’’. 
(cc) TITLE 38.—Section 101 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘of the opposite sex’’ 
each place such term appears. 
(dd) TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT.—Section 31 
of the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 31) 
is amended by striking ‘‘wife’’ and inserting ‘‘spouse’’. 
(ee) WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998.—Sec-
tion 101(15) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 
U.S.C. 2801(15)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘husband, 
wife,’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:55 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘husband 
and wife’’ and inserting ‘‘married couple’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:21 Jul 10, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2976.IH
H2976
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS