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S. 1916 108th Congress Senate

Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003

Official title: A bill 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 fo… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill 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 23, 2004 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security AnnuitiesArmed forces reservesCongressCongressional reporting requirements
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FamiliesLabor and EmploymentMilitary dependentsMilitary pensionsSurvivors' benefitsWidowersWidowsWomen
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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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 21, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Nov 21, 2003
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action November 21, 2003

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

 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 2005; (2) 40 percent for months beginning after September 2005 and before October 2008; (3) 45 percent for months beginning after September 2008 through September 2014; and (4) 55 percent for months after September 2014. 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 2005; and (2) retired pay reductions for supplemental survivor annuities.

Provides a one-year open enrollment period for SBP participation, commencing October 1, 2005, 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 2
  • HR 548 Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003
  • S 451 Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Mar 9, 2004
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Feb 23, 2004
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1916: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1916/
MLA
"S. 1916: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1916/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1916, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1916/.
Markdown link
[S. 1916: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1916/)
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