An Act to amend chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, in order to increase from $10,000 to $15,000 the amount of Servicemens Group Life Insurance for members of the uniformed services
PL 91-291 (S.1479), enacted 06/25/1970

326 
PUBLIC LAW 91-291-JUNE 25, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Public Law 91-291 
June 25, 1970 
[S. 1479] 
AN ACT 
Armed Forces. 
Group life in-
surance, increase. 
79 Stat. 880. 
70A Stat. 605; 
78 Stat. 999. 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize a maximum of .$15,000 cover-
age under Servicemen's Group Life Insurance, to enlarge the classes eligible 
for such insurance, to improve the administration of the programs of life 
insurance provided for servicemen and veterans, and for other purposes. 
Be It enacted hy the Senate and House of RepreHentativeH of the 
United /States of America in Congress assembled, That section 765 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
"§ 765. Definitions 
"For the purpose of this subchapter— 
" (1) The term 'active duty- means— 
"(A) full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active 
duty for training; 
"(B) full-time duty (other than for training purposes) as a 
commissioned officer of the Regular or Reserve Corps of the 
Public Health Service; and 
"(C) full-time duty as a commissioned officer of the Environ-
mental Science Services Administration. 
"(2) The term 'active duty for training' means— 
"(A) full-time duty in the Armed Forces performed by 
Reserves for training purposes; 
"(B) full-time duty for training purposes performed as a 
commissioned officer of the Reserve Corps of the Public Health 
Service; 
"(C) full-time duty as a member, cadet, or midshipman of 
the Reserve Officers Training Corps while attending field training 
or practice cruises; and 
"(D) in the case of members of the National Guard or Air 
National Guard of any State, full-time duty under sections 316, 
502, 503, 504, or 505 of title 32, United States Code. 
"(3) The term 'inactive duty training' means— 
"(x\) duty (other than full-time duty) prescribed or author-
ized for Reserves (including commissioned officers of the Reserve 
Corps of the Public Health Service) which duty is scheduled in 
advance by competent authority to begin at a specific time and 
place; and 
"(B) in the case of a member of the National Guard or Air 
National Guard of any State, such term means duty (other than 
full-time duty) which is scheduled in advance by competent 
authority to begin at a specific time and place under sections 316, 
502,503,504, or 505 of title 32, United States Code. 
" (4) The terms 'active duty for training' and 'inactive duty training' 
do not include duty performed as a temporary member of the Coast 
Guard Reserve, and the term 'inactive duty training' does not include 
(i) work or study performed in connection with correspondence 
courses, or (ii) attendance at an educational institution in an inactive 
status. 
" (5) The term 'member' means— 
"(A) a person on active duty, active duty for training, or 
inactive duty training in the uniformed services in a commissioned, 
warrant, or enlisted rank or grade; and 
"(B) a member, cadet, or midshipman of the Reserve Officers 
Training Corps while attending field training or practice cruises. 
"(6) The term 'uniformed services' means the Army, Navy, Air 
Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, the commissioned corps of the 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-291-JUNE 25, 1970 
327 
Public Health Service, and the commissioned corps of the Environ-
mental Science Services Administration." 
SEC. 2. Section 767 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to 
79 stat. ssi. 
read as follows: 
"§767. Persons insured; amount 
"(a) Any policy of insurance purchased by the Administrator 
under section 766 of this title shall automatically insure any member 
of the uniformed service on active duty, active duty for training, or 
inactive duty training scheduled in advance by competent authority, 
against deatn in the amount of $15,000 unless such member elects in 
writing (1) not to be insured under this subchapter, or (2) to be 
insured in the amount of $10,000 or $5,000. The msurance shall be 
effective the first day of active duty or active duty for training, or the 
beginning of a period of inactive duty training scheduled in advance 
by competent authority, or from the date certified by the Administra-
tor to the Secretary concerned as the date servicemen's group life 
insurance under this chapter for the class or group concerned takes 
effect, whichever is the later date. 
" (b) Any member (other than one who has elected not to be insured 
under this subchapter for the period or periods of duty involved^— 
" (1) who, when authorized or required by competent authority, 
assumes an obligation to perform (for less than thirty-one days) 
active duty, or active duty for training, or inactive duty training 
scheduled in advance by competent authority; and 
"(2) who is rendered uninsurable at standard premium rates 
according to the good health standards approved by the Adminis-
trator, or dies within ninety days thereafter, from a disability, or 
aggravation of a preexisting disability, incurred by him while 
proceeding directly to or returning directly from such active 
duty, active duty tor training, or inactive duty training as the 
case may be; 
shall be deemed to have been on active duty, active duty for training, 
or inactive duty training, as the case may be, and to have been insured 
under this subchapter at the time such disability was incurred or 
aggravated, and if death occurs within ninety days thereafter as a 
result of such disability to have been insured at the time of death. In 
determining whether or not such individual was so authorized or 
required to perform such duty, and whether or not he was rendered 
uninsurable or died within ninety days thereafter from a disability 
so incurred or aggravated, there shall be taken into account the call 
or order to duty, the orders and authorizations of competent authority, 
the hour on which the member began to so proceed or to return, the 
hour on which he was scheduled to arrive for, or on which he ceased 
to perform such duty; the method of travel employed; his itinerary; 
the manner in which the travel was performed; and the immediate 
cause of disability or death. Whenever any claim is filed alleging that 
the claimant is entitled to benefits by reason of this subsection, the 
burden of proof shall be on the claimant. 
"(c) If any member elects not to be insured under this subchapter 
or to be insured in the amount of $10,000 or $5,000, he may thereafter 
be insured under this subchapter or insured in the amount of $15,000 
or $10,000 under this subchapter, as the case may be, upon written 
application, proof of good health, and compliance with such other 
terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Administrator." 
47-348 O - 72 - 25 (Pt. 1) 
328 
PUBLIC LAW 91-291-JUNE 25, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
79 Stat. 881. 
§£0. 3. Sectloii 768 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
"§ 768. Duration and termination of coverage; conversion 
"(a) Each policy purchased under this subchapter shall contain a 
provision, in terms approved by the Administrator, to the effect that 
any insurance thereunder on any member of the uniformed services, 
unless discontinued or reduced upon the written request of the insured, 
shall continue in effect while the member is on active duty, active duty 
for training, or inactive duty training scheduled in advance by com-
petent authority during the period thereof, and such insurance shall 
cease— 
" (1) with respect to a member on active duty or active duty for 
training under a call or order to duty that does not specify a period 
of less than thirty-one days— 
" (A) one hundred and twenty days after the separation or 
release from active duty or active duty for training, unless on 
the date of such separation or release the member is totally 
disabled, under criteria established by the Administrator, in 
which event the insurance shall cease one year after the date 
of separation or release from such active duty or active duty 
for training, or on the date the insured ceases to be totally 
disabled, whichever is the earlier date, but in no event prior to 
the expiration of one hundred and twenty days after such 
separation or release; or 
"(B) at the end of the thirty-first day of a continuous 
period of (i) absence without leave, (ii) confinement by civil 
authorities under a sentence adjudged by a civilian court, or 
(iii) confinement by military authorities under a court-
martial sentence involving total forfeiture of pay and allow-
ances. Any insurance so terminated as the result of such an 
absence or confinement, together with any beneficiary desig-
nation in effect for such insurance at such termination thereof, 
shall be automatically revived as of the date the member is 
restored to active duty with pay or to active duty for training 
with pay. 
"(2) with respect to a member on active duty or active duty 
for training under a call or order to duty that specifies a period 
of less than thirty-one days insurance under this subchapter shall 
cease at midnight, local time, on the last day of such duty, unless 
on such date the insured is suffering from a disability incurred 
or aggravated during such period which, within ninety days after 
such date, (i) results in his death, or (ii) renders him uninsurable 
at standard premium rates according to the good health stand-
ards approved by the Administrator, in which event the insurance 
shall continue in force to death, or for ninety days after such date, 
whichever is the earlier date. 
"(3) with respect to a member on inactive duty training sched-
uled in advance by competent authority insurance under this sub-
chapter shall cease at the end of such scheduled training period, 
unless at such time the insured is suffering from a disability 
incurred, or aggravated during such period which, within ninety 
days after the date of such training, (i) results in his death, or 
(ii) renders him uninsurable at standard premium rates accord-
ing to the good health standards approved by the Administrator 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-291-JUNE 25, 1970 
329 
in which event the insurance shall continue in force to death, or 
for ninety days after the date such training terminated, whichever 
is the earlier date. 
"(b) Each policy purchased under this subchapter shall contain a provillon!^°" 
provision, in terms approved by the Administratorj for the conversion 
of Servicemen's Group Life Insurance to an individual policy of life 
insurance— 
" (1) with respect to a member on active duty or active duty for 
training under a call or order to duty that does not specify a period 
of less than thirty-one days, effective the one hundred and twenty-
first day after separation or release from such duty, or at any time 
thereafter such insurance is in effect; 
" (2) with respect to a member on active duty or active duty for 
training under a call or order to duty that specifies a period of less 
than thirty-one days, and a member insured during inactive duty 
training scheduled in advance by competent authority there shall 
be no right of conversion unless the insurance is continued in force 
for ninety days after such duty terminates, as the result of a dis-
ability incurred or aggravated during such active duty, active duty 
for training, or inactive duty training, in which event the insur-
ance may be converted effective the day after the end of such 
ninety-day period. 
" (c) An insured eligible to convert insurance under this subchapter . Participating 
upon request to the Office of Servicemen's Group Life Insurance shall panics. 
be furnished a list of life insurance companies participating in the 
written appuca-
program established under this subchapter. Upon written application s\on. "^ ''°"''^'" 
for conversion of Servicemen's Group Life Insurance made by an eligi-
ble insured under this subchapter to the participating company he 
selects and payment of the required premiums the insured shall be 
granted life insurance on a plan then currently w^ritten by such 
company which does not provide for the payment of any sum less 
than the face value thereof or for the payment of an additional 
amount as premiums if the insured engages in the military service 
of the United States. Such converted insurance shall be issued without 
a medical examination if application is made within one hundred and 
twenty days after separation or release from active duty or active duty 
for training under a call or order to duty that did not specify a period 
of less than thirty-one days. Medical examinations and evidence of 
qualifying health conditions may be required in any case where the 
former member alleges that his insurance is continued in force beyond 
the normal termination date by reason of a qualifying disability 
incurred or aggravated during active duty, active duty for training, 
or inactive duty training. In addition to the life insurance companies 
participating in the program established under this subchapter, the 
list furnished to an insured under this section, shall include additional 
life insurance companies (not so participating) which meet qualifying 
criteria, terms and conditions established by the Administrator and 
agree to sell insurance to former members in accordance with the pro-
visions of this section." 
SEC. 4. Section 769 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
?„^l"^!'°f„^ 
(1) by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows: 
"(a) (1) During any period in which a member, on active duty or 
active duty for training under a call or order to such duty that does not 
specify a period of less than thirty-one days, is insured under a policy 
of insurance purchased by the Administrator, under section 766 of 
this title, there shall be deducted each month from his basic or other 
79 Stat. 881. 
330 
PUBLIC LAW 91-291-JUNE 25, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
pay until separation or release from such duty an amount determined 
by the Administrator (which shall be the same for all such members) 
as the share of the cost attributable to insuring such member imder 
such policy, less any costs traceable to the extra hazard of such duty 
in the uniformed service. 
"(2) During any fiscal year, or portion thereof, that a member is 
on active duty or active duty for training under a call or order to 
such duty that specifies a period of less than thirty-one days, or is 
authorized or required to perform inactive duty training scheduled in 
advance by competent authority, and is insured under a policy of 
79 Stat. 880. 
insurauce purchased by the Administrator, under section 766 of this 
title, the Secretary concerned shall collect from him (by deduction 
from pay or otherwise) an amount determined bv the Administrator 
(which shall be the same for all such members) as the share of the 
cost attributable to insuring such member under such policy, less any 
costs traceable to the extra hazard of such duty in the uniformed 
service. 
"(3) Any amount not deducted from the basic or other pay of a 
member insured under this subchapter, or collected from him by the 
Secretary concerned, if not otherwise paid, shall be deducted from the 
proceeds of any insurance thereafter payable. The initial monthly 
amount under subsection (1) hereof, or fiscal year amount under sub-
section (2) hereof, determined by the Administrator to be charged 
under this section for insurance under this subchapter may be 
continued from year to year, except that the Administrator may rede-
termine such monthly or fiscal year amounts from time to time in 
accordance with experience. No refunds will be made to any member 
of any amount properly deducted from his basic or other pay, or 
collected from him by the Secretary concerned, to cover the insurance 
granted under this subchapter. 
"(b) For each month for which any member is so insured, there shall 
be contributed from the appropriation made for active duty pay of the 
uniformed service concerned an amount determined by the Adminis-
trator and certified to the Secretary concerned to be the cost of such 
insurance which is traceable to the extra hazard of duty in the uni-
formed services. Effective January 1, 1970, such cost shall be deter-
mined by the Administrator on the basis of the excess mortality 
incurred by members and former members of the uniformed services 
insured under this subchapter above what their mortality would have 
been under peacetime conditions as such mortality is determined by 
the Administrator using such methods and data as he shall determine 
to be reasonable and practicable. The Administrator is authorized to 
make such adjustments regarding contributions from pay appropria-
tions as may be indicated from actual experience." 
(2) by inserting after "pay of members" in the first sentence of 
subsection (d) (1) the following: ", or collected from them by the 
Secretary concerned,". 
Beneficiaries. 
SEC. 5. Sectiou 770 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
7 0 S t a t 
8
S
^
» 
• 
• 
•^ 
adding the following new subsections thereto: 
"(e) Until and unless otherwise changed, a beneficiary designation 
and settlement option filed by a member with his uniformed service 
under prior provisions of law will be effective with respect to the 
increased insurance authorized under this amendatory Act and the 
insurance shall be settled in the same proportionate amount as the 
portion designated for such beneficiary or beneficiaries bore to the 
amount of insurance heretofore in effect. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-291-JUNE 25, 1970 
331 
"(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, payment of ^^Jf^r'^/JoV" 
matured Servicemen's Group Life Insurance benefits may be made '"""^ 
directly to a minor widow or widower on his or her own behalf, and 
payment in such case shall be a complete acquittance to the insurer. 
"(g) Payments of benefits due or to become due under Servicemen's fr<^"ax"uon^eu:* 
Group Life Insurance made to, or on account of, a beneficiary shall be 
exempt from taxation, shall be exempt from the claims of creditors, 
and shall not be liable to attachment, levy, or seizure by or under any 
legal or equitable process whatever, either before or after receipt by 
the beneficiary. The preceding sentence shall not apply to (1) collection 
of amounts not deducted from the member's pay, or collected from him 
by the Secretary concerned under section 769(a) of this title, (2) levy 
'*"'°' P* ^^^• 
under subchapter D of chapter 64 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 
SSA stat. 783; 
(relating to the seizure of property for collection of taxes), and (3) the ^°26*usc 633*1-
taxation of any property purchased in part or wholly out of such 6344. 
payments." 
SEC. 6. Section 774 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
79 stat. sss. 
inserting after "the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare," the 
following: "the Secretary of Transportation,". 
SEC. 7. The analysis of subchapter I I I of chapter 19 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking therefrom 
"768. Termination of coverage; conversion" 
and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
"768. Duration and termination of coverage; conversion". 
SEC. 8. The third sentence of section 705 of title 38, United States Li?e^"ns"urancr'" 
Code, is amended by striking out "lapse occurred not earlier than two 
72 stat.^Ms'. 
months before the expiration of the term period" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "insured makes application for reinstatement and renewal 
of his term policy within five years after the date of lapse". 
SEC. 9. Section 707 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting " ( a ) " before the word "Until" and adding a new subsection payment 
(b)asfollows: 
72 stat. 1149. 
"(b) No claim by an insured for payment in cash of a special divi-
dend declared prior to January 1, 1952, shall be processed by the 
Veterans' Administration unless such claim was received within six 
years after such dividend was declared. Whenever any claim for pay-
ment of a special dividend, the processing of which is barred by this 
subsection, is received in the Veterans' Administration, it shall be 
returned to the claimant, with a copy of this subsection, and such action 
shall be a complete response without further communication." 
SEC. 10. Section 717 of title 38, United States Code, is amended (a) ancfprocee"dT' 
by substituting a period for the comma after the word "beneficiary" ^ Method'^of paV-
in the last sentence of subsection (c) and striking the remainder of '"^"*-
the sentence, and (b) by adding at the end thereof the following new ^^ ^*^'* ^^^^° 
subsection: 
"(e) Under such regulations as the Administrator may promulgate, 
the cash surrender value of any policy of insurance or the proceeds of 
an endowment contract which matures by reason of completion of the 
endowment period may be paid to the insured under option (2) or (4) 
of this section. All settlements under option (4), however, shall be 
calculated on the basis of The Annuity Table for 1949. If the option 
selected requires payment of monthly installments of less than $10, the 
amount payable shall be paid in such maximum number of monthly 
installments as are a multiple of twelve as will provide a monthly 
installment of not less than $10." 
SEC. 11. Section 745 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to n^e^fLPfeTnTJ^. 
read as follows: 
ance. 
Dividends. 
Request for cash 
332 
PUBLIC L
A
W 91-291-JUNE 25, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Optional settle-
ment. 
72 Stat. 1161. 
Payments, re-
strictions. 
72 Stat. 1132. 
Prohibition. 
Effective dates. 
"§ 745. Renewal 
"At the expiration of any- term period any insurance policy issued 
on the five-year level premium term plan which has not been exchanged 
or converted to a permanent plan of insurance and which is not lapsed 
shall be renewed as level premium term insurance without application 
for a successive five-year period at the premium rate for the attained 
age without medical examination. However, renewal shall be effected 
in cases where the policy is lapsed only if the insured makes applica-
tion for reinstatement and renewal of his term policy within five years 
after the date of lapse, and reinstatement in such cases shall be under 
the terms and conditions prescribed by the Administrator." 
SEC. 12. Section 752 of title 38, United States Code, is amended (1) 
by adding " ( a ) " before the words "The Administrator", and (2) by 
adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
" (b) Under such regulations as the Administrator may promulgate, 
the cash surrender value of any policy of insurance or the proceeds 
of an endowment contract which matures by reason of completion of 
the endowment period may be paid to the insured (1) in equal monthly 
installments of from thirty-six to two hundred and forty in number, 
in multiples of twelve; or (2) as a refund life income in monthly 
installments payable for such periods certain as may be required in 
order that the sum of the installments certain, including a last install-
ment of such reduced amount as may be necessary, shall equal the 
cash value of the contract, less any indebtedness, with such payments 
continuing throughout the lifetime of the insured. However, all settle-
ments under option (2) above shall be calculated on the basis of The 
Annuity Table for 1949. If the option selected requires payment of 
monthly installments of less than $10, the amount payable shall be 
paid in such maximum number of monthly installments as are a 
multiple of twelve as will provide a monthly installment of not less 
than $10." 
SEC. 13. (a) The first sentence of section 417(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting " (1)" immediately after "unless", 
and by striking out the period at the end of such sentence and inserting 
in lieu thereof a comma and the following: "or (2) the total amount 
paid to the widow, children, or parents of such veteran under any such 
policy is equal to or exceeds the face value of the policy and such 
amount paid when added to any amounts paid as death compensation 
is equal to or less than the total amount which would have been payable 
in dependency and indemnity compensation following the death of 
such veteran if such widow, children, or parents had been eligible for 
such compensation upon the death of such veteran. Any person receiv-
ing death compensation at the time he becomes eligible for dependency 
and indemnity compensation pursuant to clause (2) of the preceding 
sentence shall continue to receive such death compensation unless he 
makes application to the Administrator to be paid dependency and 
indemnity compensation. An election by such person to receive depend-
ency and indemnity compensation shall be final.". 
(b) The last sentence of section 417(a) of such title is amended by 
striking out "preceding sentence" and inserting in lieu thereof "first 
sentence". 
(c) No dependency and indemnity compensation shall be payable to 
any person by virtue of the amendments made by subsection (a) of this 
section for any person prior to the effective date of this Act. 
SEC. 14. (a) The amendments made by this Act shall take effect as 
of the date of enactment, except that sections 10 and 12 shall take effect 
as of the first day of the first calendar month w^hich begins more than 
six calendar months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-294-JUNE 29, 1970 
333 
(b) The provisions of section 765 (7), (8), and (9) of title 38, 
LTnited States Code, as added by the first section of this Act shall 
apply only to servicemen's group life insurance in effect on the life 
of an insured member who dies on and after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
Approved June 25, 1970. 
Public Law 91-292 
AN ACT 
Jung 25, 1970 
To amend section 2(3) and section 8c(6) (I) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, 
[H. R. 14810] 
as reenacted and amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 
1937 and subsequent legislation, so as to authorize production research under 
marketing agreement and order programs. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United /States of America in Congress assembled. That the Agricul- .i^^'"V'""'f^^, 
, , - . 
• ' . 
'
C
- 
i
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i
' 
ij. 
1 Adjustment Act, 
tural Adjustment Act, as reenacted and amended by the Agricultural amendments. 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 and subsequent legislation (7 U.S.C 
601; 48 Stat. 31), is further amended as follows: 
(1) Section 2(3) of the Act is further amended by inserting the 
ei stat. 707; 
words "such production research, marketing research, and development ^^y^us^^ 602° 
projects provided in section 8c(6) (I)," immediately after the words 
"establish and maintain". 
(2) Subsection (I) of section 8c(6) is further amended by (a) ^ | ^*^*' ^os; 
inserting the words "production research," immediately after the 79 stat'. 1270. 
phrase "Establishing or providing for the establishment of"; (b) 
7 use eosc 
inserting the words "or efficient production" after the word "consump-
tion"; and (c) striking the period at the end of subsection (I) and 
^°*'' P* ^^^^* 
adding a second proviso reading ": Provided further^ That the inclu-
sion in a Federal marketing order of provisions for research shall not 
be deemed to preclude, preempt or supersede research provisions in any 
State program covering the same commodity.". 
Approved June 25, 1970. 
7 u s e 674 note 
Public Law 91-293 
June 25, 1970 
To amend the Act of June 28, 1948, as amended, relating to the acquisition of 
[S. 2940] 
property for the Independence National Historical Park. 
B^ it enacted hy the Senate and Ho^me of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the first sen- independence 
tence of section 6 of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the estab- pLk°"° 
lishment of the Independence National Historical Park, and for 
other purposes", approved June 28,1948 (62 Stat. 1061, as amended; 
16 U.S.C. 407r), is further amended by striking out "$7,950,000" and 
^2 stat. 862. 
inserting in lieu thereof "$11,200,000". 
Approved June 25, 1970. 
Public Law 91-294 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
j„„^ 29^ ^^^o 
Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1971, and for other 
[H. J. Res. i264] 
purposes. 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled. That the following: sums continuing ap-
^ 
^ 
' 
= 
propriations, 19 71.