Press Releases

Moore, Hudson, and Phillips Introduce Love Lives On Act

Today, Representatives Gwen Moore, Dean Phillips, and Richard Hudson introduced the Love Lives On Act, legislation that will allow surviving spouses of military service members, who make the ultimate sacrifice, to retain vital benefits if they remarry.

“It’s vital that our country takes care of all surviving spouses of military service members, which is why I am so pleased to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort. Our bill, the Love Lives On Act, will make important changes to current policies for surviving spouses, ensuring more can access crucial benefits,” said Rep. Moore.

“As a Gold Star Son, my gratitude to our servicemembers and their families is immeasurable,” said Rep. Phillips. “We always seem to find enough resources to send our men and women in uniform into harm’s way, but we must ensure the families of those who do not return are given equal priority. Gold Star Spouses make unimaginable sacrifices and deserve unending respect and support. The Love Lives On Act is part of my mission to ensure our Gold Star Families have access every single benefit they are owed, and I’m grateful to colleagues on both sides of the aisle for backing it.” 

"As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I believe our country owes a tremendous debt to the surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers,” said Rep. Hudson. “It takes great courage to pick up the pieces and move on. Therefore, we must ensure that surviving spouses can continue to move forward, free from the fear of losing the benefits owed to them through their late spouse’s military sacrifice."

Specifically, this legislation will:

• Allow surviving spouses to retain Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) upon remarriage at any age.
• Allow surviving spouses to maintain eligibility for education benefits under the Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33) and Dependents Education Assistance (Chapter 35) upon remarriage and if that marriage subsequently ends in death, divorce or annulment.
• Allow remarried surviving spouses access to Commissary and Exchange benefits.
• Allow remarried surviving spouses to regain their TRICARE benefits if that marriage subsequently ends due to death, divorce or annulment.
• Allow access to electronic medical records, appointments, referrals, and prescription refills for remarried spouses with dependent children, and ensure that remarried surviving spouses are treated as the parents to minor children not just the fiduciary.
• Redefine surviving spouse to honor all surviving spouses, including those of same sex marriages.