# 114-hr-2539: Surviving Spouses' Benefit Improvement Act of 2015

114-hr-2539, Surviving Spouses' Benefit Improvement Act of 2015, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4] (D-MA); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2539
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-2539
- Congress: 114
- Title: Surviving Spouses' Benefit Improvement Act of 2015
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- Introduced: 2015-05-21
- Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 12
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Surviving Spouses' Benefit Improvement Act of 2015 This bill increases monthly rates for veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Benefits under any other law (other than duplication of benefits) shall not be reduced or offset because the surviving spouse is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation. Six months after enactment of this Act, the VA shall pay to an individual who is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation predicated on the death of a veteran before January 1, 1993, monthly dependency and indemnity compensation that is the greater of the amount in effect either before or after enactment of this Act.

## Cosponsors (12)

- LOIS CAPPS (D-CA), 2015-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2015-07-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4] (R-OK), 2015-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11] (R-FL), 2015-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- CHARLES RANGEL (D-NY), 2015-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- MICHAEL HONDA (D-CA), 2015-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2015-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- JIM MCDERMOTT (D-WA), 2015-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2016-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grayson, Alan [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2016-02-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] (R-GA), 2016-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ), 2016-05-31T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-2992: Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
- 114-hr-2737: Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015
- 114-hr-1786: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act
- 114-hr-1475: Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act
- 114-hr-5621: To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Doby in recognition of his achievements and contributions to American major league…

## Sources
- [114-hr-2539 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2539)

## Related
- [114-hr-2992: Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2992)
- [114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4592)
- [114-hr-2737: Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2737)
- [114-hr-1786: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1786)
- [114-hr-1475: Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1475)
- [114-hr-5621: To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Dob…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5621)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2539 (as of 2025-11-18).