S. 2505 — Introduced in Senate

II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2505 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 26, 2023Mr. Braun introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To require a report on the effect of the phase-out of the reduction of Survivor Benefit Plan survivor annuities by the amount of dependency and indemnity compensation. 1. Report on effect of phase-out of reduction of Survivor Benefit Plan survivor annuities by amount of dependency and indemnity compensation (a) In general The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the effect of section 622 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1427) and the amendments made by such section. (b) Contents The report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An assessment on the effect that section 622 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1427) and the amendments made by such section had on beneficiaries and any unintended consequences that were a result of such section or amendments. (2) An evaluation of the authority that the Secretary has in a situation when the Defense Finance Accounting Service cannot verify the eligibility of a spouse and payments are paused for the child. (3) Recommendations for legislative action to ensure the Secretary has the flexibility to make payments under subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code, to dependent children that are under the guardianship of someone other than the surviving spouse. (4) An assessment of the process of the Department for determining eligibility for survivor benefits under subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code, and dependency and indemnity compensation under chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code, and the coordination between the Defense Finance Accounting Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs for such benefits.