I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2243 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 5, 2009 Mr. Buyer (for himself, Mr. Walz, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Pierluisi, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Rooney, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr. Kline of Minnesota, Mr. Putnam, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Hall of New York, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Calvert, Mr. McMahon, Mr. Jones, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Michaud, and Mr. Donnelly of Indiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Surviving Spouses’ Benefit Improvement Act of 2009.

2.

Increase in amount of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

(a)

Increase

Section 1311 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (a)— (A)in paragraph (1), by striking of $1,091 and inserting equal to 55 percent of the rate of monthly compensation in effect under section 1114(j) of this title; and (B)in paragraph (3)— (i)by striking $1,067 each place it appears and inserting $1,292; (ii)by striking 1,104 and inserting $1,337; (iii)by striking $1,165 both places it appears and inserting $1,411; (iv)by striking $1,215 and inserting $1,472; (v)by striking $1,128 both places it appears and inserting $1,365; (vi)by striking $1,172 and inserting $1,419; (vii)by striking $1,207 and inserting $1,462; (viii)by striking $1,276 and inserting $1,546; (ix)by striking $1,246 and inserting $1,509; (x)by striking $1,319 and inserting $1,598; (xi)by striking $1,452 and inserting $1,760; (xii)by striking $1,637 and inserting $1,984; (xiii)by striking $1,768 and inserting $2,141; (xiv)by striking $1,941 and inserting $2,352; (xv)by striking $2,076 and inserting $2,516; (xvi)by striking $2,276 and inserting $2,759; (xvii)by striking $1,342 and inserting $1,589; and (xviii)by striking $2,499 and inserting $2,960; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (g)In the case of an individual who is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation under this section who is also eligible for benefits under another provision of law by reason of such individual’s status as the surviving spouse of a veteran, then, notwithstanding any other provision of law (other than section 5304(b)(3) of this title), neither a reduction nor an offset in benefits under such provision shall be made by reason of such individual’s eligibility for benefits under this section. . (b)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to compensation paid under chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code, for months beginning after the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.