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S 1188 108th Congress Senate Armed Forces and National Security Administrative remedies Appellate procedure Claims Death Department of Veterans Affairs Estates (Law) Families Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Judicial review Labor and Employment Law Limitation of actions Married people Parents Parties to actions Survivors' benefits Veterans' benefits Veterans' pensions

Veterans' Survivor Benefits Act of 2003

Introduced: June 5, 2003 Introduced by: Murray, Patty Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 10, 2003
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Jun 5, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jun 5, 2003
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Veterans' Survivor Benefits Act of 2003 - Repeals the limitation (benefits due and unpaid for not to exceed two years) on the accrued benefits required to be paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs upon the death of a veteran or other beneficiary. Provides that, upon the death of a child claiming benefits as a child of a Vietnam veteran, such benefits shall be paid to the surviving parents.

Authorizes the substitution of any of the following parties in the case of a veteran's claim for benefits provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs when the original claimant dies while the claim is pending: (1) the surviving spouse; (2) the custodian of a surviving minor or incapable child; (3) a child between 18 and 21 years of age pursuing a program of education; (4) a dependent parent; or (5) in the case of the death of a child claiming benefits as a child of a Vietnam veteran, a surviving parent.

Authorizes the substitution of the above eligible parties in cases pending before a U.S. Circuit Court or the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

What's happening now July 10, 2003

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1188: Veterans' Survivor Benefits Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1188/
MLA
"S. 1188: Veterans' Survivor Benefits Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1188/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1188, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1188/.
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[S. 1188: Veterans' Survivor Benefits Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1188/)
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