H.R. 1004 · 119th Congress

Lets surviving military and veteran spouses keep benefits after remarrying

Official title: Love Lives On Act of 20251

Never got a floor voteVeterans' disability and survivor benefits

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This bill would let surviving spouses of service members and veterans keep certain benefits if they remarry.2,3 Remarriage would no longer bar a surviving spouse from receiving dependency and indemnity compensation (a monthly VA payment to survivors) or special pension benefits, and the Defense Department could not stop Survivor Benefit Plan payments to the surviving spouse of a service member who died on active duty solely because that spouse remarries.2,3 It would also count remarried widows and widowers whose later marriage ended by death, divorce or annulment as dependents under TRICARE, the military health program.2,3

§2Status

StatusLatest action, March 26, 2026: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.1
IntroducedFebruary 5, 2025
SponsorRep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9]
Cosponsors183 cosponsors (130 Democratic, 52 Republican, 1 independent)
Official recordH.R. 1004 on Congress.gov

§3It never got a vote

Why this matters: This bill had wide support from both parties, but it never reached the House or Senate floor, so no member of Congress was ever recorded voting for or against it.

Latest action, March 26, 2026: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (155)