Skip to main content
H.R. 548 108th Congress House

Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003

Official title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for surviving spouses age 62 and older, to provide for a one… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for surviving spouses age 62 and older, to provide for a one-year open season under that plan, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 5, 2003 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security AnnuitiesCongressCongressional reporting requirementsFamilies
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Labor and EmploymentMilitary pensionsSurvivors' benefitsWidowersWidowsWomen
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 28, 2003
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
Feb 28, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Total Force.
Feb 5, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Feb 5, 2003
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action February 28, 2003

Executive Comment Requested from DOD.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003 - Adjusts the basic Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity amount for surviving spouses, age 62 and older, of former military personnel to: (1) 35 percent of the retired pay of the decedent (current law), for months before October 2004; (2) 40 percent for months during FY 2005; (3) 45 percent for months during FY 2006; (4) 50 percent for months during FY 2007; and (5) 55 percent for months after FY 2007. Adjusts similarly percentage amounts with respect to survivors of reserve personnel and survivors of persons who die while on active duty. Provides a corresponding phased elimination of the SBP supplemental annuity authorized to be provided to such surviving spouses. Requires periodic recomputation of: (1) annuity amounts beginning in October 2004; and (2) retired pay reductions for supplemental survivor annuities.

Provides a one-year open enrollment period for SBP participation, commencing October 1, 2004, for those currently not participating, those electing to increase current coverage, and those wishing to participate in the supplemental SBP.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to require appropriate premiums for SBP participation.

 Related & companion bills 4
  • S 451 Identical bill Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003
  • HRES 584 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 548) to amend title 10, United States Code, to increase the minimum Survi…
  • HR 3763 Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2004
  • S 1916 Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 91
All 91 Democratic 33 Republican 17 Independent 1
KANJORSKI, PAUL
· May 6, 2004
 D
Case, Ed
Hawaii · May 5, 2004
HILL, BARON
· May 5, 2004
LIPINSKI, WILLIAM
· May 5, 2004
 R
Moran, Jerry
Kansas · May 5, 2004
GEPHARDT, RICHARD
· Apr 28, 2004
MCCARTHY, KAREN
· Apr 27, 2004
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Apr 27, 2004
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Apr 27, 2004
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Mar 30, 2004
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Mar 29, 2004
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Mar 29, 2004
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · Jan 20, 2004
MOLLOHAN, ALAN
· Sep 5, 2003
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Jul 24, 2003
STENHOLM, CHARLES
· Jul 24, 2003
COLLINS, MAC
· Jun 23, 2003
FLETCHER, ERNEST
· Jun 23, 2003
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Jun 10, 2003
Bordallo, Madeleine
· Jun 10, 2003
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jun 5, 2003
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Jun 5, 2003
Janklow, William
· Jun 5, 2003
Majette, Denise
· May 14, 2003
 D
Sherman, Brad
California · May 14, 2003
Ballance, Frank
· May 9, 2003
 R
Carter, John R.
Texas · May 9, 2003
 D
Larson, John B.
Connecticut · May 9, 2003
 D
Doggett, Lloyd
Texas · Apr 29, 2003
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Apr 29, 2003
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Apr 10, 2003
 R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · Apr 10, 2003
TANNER, JOHN
· Apr 10, 2003
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Apr 10, 2003
DeMint, James
· Apr 3, 2003
DUNN, JENNIFER
· Apr 3, 2003
JOHN, CHRISTOPHER
· Apr 3, 2003
OSE, DOUG
· Apr 3, 2003
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Apr 3, 2003
TAUZIN, W.
· Apr 3, 2003
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Apr 3, 2003
 R
Turner, Michael R.
Ohio · Apr 3, 2003
Burns, Max
· Mar 27, 2003
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Mar 27, 2003
CRANE, PHILIP
· Mar 27, 2003
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Mar 27, 2003
HOEFFEL, JOSEPH
· Mar 27, 2003
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Mar 27, 2003
 D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Mar 27, 2003
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · Mar 27, 2003
Page 1 of 2 Next
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 548: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-548/
MLA
"H.R. 548: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-548/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 548, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-548/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 548: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-548/)
Report a problem