119 S274 IS: Next of Kin Collections Protection Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-02-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 274IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJanuary 28, 2025Mr. Daines (for himself and Mr. Kim) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws relating to the payment of certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that are affected by death, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Next of Kin Collections Protection Act of 2025.

2.

Payment by Secretary of Veterans Affairs of certain benefits affected by death

(a)

Effective date of certain reductions and discontinuances of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and pension under laws administered by Secretary of Veterans Affairs

(1)

In general

Section 5112(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—(A)in paragraph (1), by inserting (except in the case of a pension under an existing rating or decision), after death of a payee;(B)by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (10) as paragraphs (4) through (11), respectively; and(C)by inserting, after paragraph (2), the following new paragraph (3):(3)by reason of death of a payee in the case of a pension under an existing rating or decision, shall be the last day of the month in which such death occurs;.(2)

Conforming amendment

Section 1832(b)(4) of such title is amended by striking paragraphs (1), (6), (9), and (10) and inserting paragraphs (1), (7), (10), and (11).(b)

Payment of benefits for month of death

Section 5310(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting , or in the case of a payment for the month of the death of a payee under section 5112(b)(2) of this title, before an amount equal.(c)

Effective date

The amendments to title 38, United States Code, made by this section shall apply with respect to a payment of a benefit affected by a death that occurs on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.