Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Caring for Survivors Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code regarding dependency and indemnity compensation. This legislation seeks to improve and expand eligibility for compensation paid to certain survivors of veterans. Specifically, it changes the calculation for monthly compensation for surviving spouses. It also modifies the requirements for survivors of veterans who were rated totally disabled at the time of death.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill increases monthly payments for surviving spouses and lowers the continuous rating requirement for other survivors.
- Scored +5
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill improves the financial security of those left behind by veterans by increasing and expanding survivor compensation.
- Scored +4
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill provides increased financial support for survivors, many of whom are likely to be older adults or retirees.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases compensation for surviving spouses and expands eligibility for other survivors, which will increase federal spending.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Compensation for Surviving Spouses: Section 2(a) amends the law to set the compensation amount equal to 55 percent of the rate of monthly compensation in effect under section 1114(j) of title 38.
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Protection Against Lower Payments for Long-term Veterans: Section 2(b)(2)(A) provides a special rule for individuals eligible for benefits based on the death of a veteran before January 1, 1993, ensuring they receive the greater of the new amount or the amount in effect on the day before this Act was enacted.
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Expanded Eligibility for Survivors of Totally Disabled Veterans: Section 3(1) amends subsection (b)(1) by changing the requirement from "10 or more years" to "five or more years" of continuous rating preceding death.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Reduced Payments for Shorter Continuous Rating Periods: Section 3(1)(A) introduces a new paragraph (2) stating that if the period of continuous rating immediately preceding death is less than 10 years, the amount payable will be adjusted based on the duration of that period relative to 10 years.
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 veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill improves the financial security of those left behind by veterans by increasing and expanding survivor compensation. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides additional monthly income to survivors of veterans, which helps support low-income households. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill increases monthly benefits for surviving spouses, who are often in a retirement stage of life. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides increased financial support for survivors, many of whom are likely to be older adults or retirees.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill increases monthly payments for surviving spouses and lowers the continuous rating requirement for other survivors.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill expands eligibility and increases monthly compensation for survivors of veterans, providing higher income levels for vulnerable households.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases compensation for surviving spouses and expands eligibility for other survivors, which will increase federal spending.
- 11/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/11/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.
- 2/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
6 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.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts