Gold Star Spouses Non-Monetary Benefits Act

Bill: 117-hr-4191
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Introduced: 2021-06-25
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military facilities and property

Military personnel and dependents

Retail and wholesale trades
Latest action: action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Gold Star Spouses Non-Monetary Benefits Act</strong></p> <p>This bill addresses certain federal benefits for surviving spouses of members of the Armed Forces, including those who have remarried.</p> <p>For purposes of noncompetitive appointment to government employment, a surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who was married to such member at the time they died while on active duty may be appointed as a military spouse, regardless of remarriage. Additionally, widows or widowers of certain veterans who served on active duty must be considered preference eligible for purposes of government employment, regardless of remarriage.</p> <p>A surviving spouse who is eligible for the gold star lapel button is entitled to commissary and exchange privileges to the same extent and on the same basis as the surviving spouse of a retired member of the uniformed services. Such spouses are also entitled, upon request, to medical and dental care provided in facilities of the uniformed services.</p> <p>A surviving spouse who is eligible for a gold star lapel button must be permitted to use commissary stores and certain retail facilities on the same basis as a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty.</p> <p>In regard to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, the remarriage of a surviving spouse of a veteran does not bar the furnishing of non-monetary benefits to a surviving spouse who is eligible for a gold star lapel button. Such surviving spouses who are eligible for a gold star lapel button are also eligible for certain VA home loan programs.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4191 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 25, 2021 Ms. Stefanik (for herself and Mr. Kim of New Jersey ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services , and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs , and Oversight and Reform , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To restore certain non-monetary Federal benefits to surviving spouses, eligible for the Gold Star lapel button, who remarried, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Gold Star Spouses Non-Monetary Benefits Act . 2. Federal benefits for remarried surviving spouses eligible for the Gold Star lapel button (a) Civil service (1) Preference eligible Section 2108(3)(D) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking unmarried . (2) Noncompetitive appointment Section 3330d(a)(3)(B) of such title is amended to read as follows: (B) who was married to a member of the Armed Forces on the date on which the member dies while on active duty in the Armed Forces. . (b) Department of Defense (1) Commissary and exchange benefits Section 1062 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (A) by inserting (a) Unremarried former spouses .— before The Secretary ; and (B) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) Surviving spouses eligible for the gold star lapel buttion The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to provide that a surviving spouse eligible for the gold star lapel button under section 1126 of this title is entitled to commissary and exchange privileges to the same extent and on the same basis as the surviving spouse of a retired member of the uniformed services. . (2) Certain morale, welfare, and recreation privileges (A) In general Chapter 54 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1066. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: surviving spouses eligible for the gold star lapel button (a) Eligibility of surviving spouses eligible for the gold star lapel button A surviving spouse who is eligible for a gold star lapel button under section 1126 of this title shall be permitted to use commissary stores and MWR retail facilities on the same basis as the dependent of a member of the armed forces on active duty. (b) MWR retail facilities defined In this section, the term MWR retail facilities has the meaning given that term in section 1063 of this title. . (B) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 54 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 1066. Use of commissary stores and MWR facilities: surviving spouses eligible for the gold star lapel button. . (3) Eligibility for medical and dental care Paragraph (2) of section 1072 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subparagraph (H), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (B) in subparagraph (I)(v), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (J) A surviving spouse who is eligible for a gold star lapel button under section 1126 of this title. . (4) Entitlement to medical and dental care Section 1076(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) A surviving spouse who is eligible for a gold star lapel button under section 1126 of this title. . (c) Department of Veterans Affairs (1) Special marriage provisions Section 103(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) The remarriage of the surviving spouse of a veteran shall not bar the furnishing of non-monetary benefits to such surviving spouse if such surviving spouse is eligible for a gold star lapel button under section 1126 of title 10. . (2) Eligibility for housing and small business loans Section 3701(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (8) The term veteran also includes an individual who is— (A) the surviving spouse of a veteran; and (B) eligible for a gold star lapel button under section 1126 of title 10. . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply beginning on the first day of the first month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.