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S. 735 113th Congress Senate

Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2013

Official title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and assistance provided to surviving spouses of veterans under laws administered by the Secre… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and assistance provided to surviving spouses of veterans under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 16, 2013 Introduced by: Bernard Sanders Independent · Vermont See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security AsiaChild healthConflicts and warsHazardous wastes and toxic substances
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Hereditary and development disordersLong-term, rehabilitative, and terminal careMarriage and family statusMental healthMilitary personnel and dependentsNeurological disordersThailandVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' loans, housing, homeless programsVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions and compensation
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This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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
Jun 12, 2013
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-111.
Apr 16, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2686-2687)
Apr 16, 2013
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2686)
Apr 16, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action June 12, 2013

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-111.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2013 - Allows dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) paid through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to the surviving spouses of veterans to be increased for months occurring during the five-year (under current law, two-year) period beginning on the date of entitlement.

Provides that the remarriage after age 55 of the surviving spouse of a veteran shall not bar the furnishing of VA DIC, health care, educational assistance, and housing loans.

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide, to any spina bifida-affected child of a veteran who served on active duty in Thailand beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, and was exposed to a herbicide agent during such service, the same health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance required to be paid to a similarly-affected child of a Vietnam veteran.

Directs the Secretary to carry out a two-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing grief counseling services for the surviving spouses of veterans who die while serving on active duty.

 Related & companion bills 4
  • S 944 Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2013
  • S 1950 Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014
  • S 1982 Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014
  • S 2413 Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 735: Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-735/
MLA
"S. 735: Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-735/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 735, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-735/.
Markdown link
[S. 735: Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-735/)
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