S 451
108th Congress
Senate
Armed Forces and National Security
Annuities
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Families
Labor and Employment
Military pensions
Survivors' benefits
Widowers
Widows
Women
Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003
Introduced: February 26, 2003
See on congress.gov
Everywhere this bill has been
3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 26, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Feb 26, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2842)
Feb 26, 2003
Introduced in Senate
Plain-English summary
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.
What's happening now
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Committees of jurisdiction
1