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119-hr-2264119th CongressWALLET

Service-Connected Suicide Compensation Act

Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

In Committee

Summary

Guarantees DIC to survivors when a veteran's suicide is linked to a service-connected mental disorder. This bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay Dependency and Indemnity Compensation to a veteran's surviving spouse, children, and parents once the Secretary determines the veteran had a service-connected mental disorder and died by suicide.

Show full summary
  • Families: Surviving spouses, children, and parents would become eligible for an automatic DIC payment after the VA Secretary makes the required determinations. This ties survivor support directly to a finding of a service-connected mental disorder and suicide.
  • VA administration: Creates an affirmative obligation for the Secretary to pay DIC in those cases while otherwise leaving the existing DIC eligibility framework in place.
  • Payment details: The bill text does not specify payment amounts, timing, procedural steps, or how payments would be funded.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

VA survivor payments after service-connected suicide

This bill would require the VA to pay survivor benefits in certain suicide cases. A surviving spouse, child, or parent would receive VA dependency and indemnity compensation. This would apply only if the VA decides the veteran had a service‑connected mental disorder and died by suicide. Payments would follow current DIC rules; the bill does not set new rates, dates, or procedures.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

NY • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/21/2025

  • Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/10/2025

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 9/16/2025

  • Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 9/16/2025

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 9/18/2025

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 9/18/2025

  • Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/19/2025

  • Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 9/26/2025

  • Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 9/26/2025

  • Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 12/23/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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