Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act
A Democratic bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act," aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code. The primary goal is to make certain spouses eligible for services provided under the disabled veterans' outreach program. It expands the definition of "eligible persons" to include specific spouses. This includes spouses described in section 4101(5) and the spouses of individuals who died while serving in the Armed Forces.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +5
Would women be better off under this?
The bill benefits female spouses by expanding their eligibility for career services.
- Scored +5
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill expands benefits to include spouses of deceased service members and certain eligible veterans.
- Scored +3
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill supports veterans by extending career services to their spouses.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Access to Services: By including "eligible persons" alongside veterans, the bill allows spouses to access services under the disabled veterans' outreach program (Section 2).
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Support for Gold Star and Surviving Spouses: The bill specifically includes the spouse of any person who died while a member of the Armed Forces as an "eligible person" (Section 2, subsection (e)(2)).
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Support for Spouses of Eligible Veterans: The amendment ensures that spouses described in section 4101(5) are recognized as "eligible persons" for program services (Section 2, subsection (e)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill benefits female spouses by expanding their eligibility for career services. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill provides outreach services relevant to the disabled veterans' program. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill supports veterans by extending career services to their spouses.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill expands benefits to include spouses of deceased service members and certain eligible veterans.
- 12/19/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/18/2025
- Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8895; text: CR S8895)
- 3/31/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri