# 119-hr-4637: Veterans’ Surviving Spouse Equity Act of 2025

119-hr-4637, Veterans’ Surviving Spouse Equity Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4637
- As of: 2026-07-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4637
- Congress: 119
- Title: Veterans’ Surviving Spouse Equity Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-07-23
- Sponsor: Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-19

## Summary

**Expand eligibility for survivors of veterans rated totally disabled at death.** This bill would broaden who can receive benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs for survivors of veterans who were rated totally disabled when they died. It amends 38 U.S.C. 1318(c) by adding a new paragraph with two alternative ways to qualify. - Surviving spouses: A surviving spouse would qualify if they were married to the veteran for one year or more immediately before the veteran’s death. - Long-term partners: A surviving partner who lived with the veteran for at least one year and publicly held themselves out as the veteran’s spouse would also qualify, even if the veteran or partner entered another legal or religious marriage during that year. - Narrow change: The revision is limited to adding paragraph (3) to 38 U.S.C. 1318(c) and does not create a new program or include a phase-in or sunset provision.

## Provisions PRIA read

- More survivor benefits for spouses: benefit, high. If your spouse was rated totally disabled when they died, you may qualify for VA survivor benefits. You qualify if you were married to the veteran for at least one year right before their death. You also qualify if you lived with the veteran for at least one year. During that year you must have pub…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3077: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-6976: Duty Status Reform Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-4637 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4637)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-3077: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3077)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-6976: Duty Status Reform Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6976)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4637 (as of 2026-07-19).