Skip to main content
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
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 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
 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.

 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.

What's happening now February 26, 2003

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 1916 Related bill Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003
  • HR 548 Identical bill Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 9
All 9 Democratic 4 Republican 5
R
Murkowski, Lisa
Alaska · Jul 30, 2003
 R
Cornyn, John
Texas · Jul 9, 2003
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jun 19, 2003
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Jun 19, 2003
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Apr 29, 2003
 D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Apr 11, 2003
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Apr 7, 2003
 R
Collins, Susan M.
Maine · Mar 27, 2003
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Mar 27, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 451: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-451/
MLA
"S. 451: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-451/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 451, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-451/.
Markdown link
[S. 451: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-451/)
Report a problem