Bill > HR1685

This bill, known as the "Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025," aims to extend increased dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) to surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Currently, the bill modifies existing veterans' benefits law to ensure that surviving spouses receive enhanced compensation regardless of how long the veteran had ALS prior to death. Specifically, the bill adds a provision that treats veterans who die from ALS as eligible for increased DIC without a time-based restriction, and establishes that only spouses who were married to the veteran for at least eight continuous years before the veteran's death qualify for this compensation. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress within 180 days, identifying other service-connected disabilities with high mortality rates that might warrant similar compensation treatment. The changes will apply to veterans who die from ALS on or after October 1, 2025, potentially providing more comprehensive financial support to families of veterans who succumb to this devastating disease.

Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1685/all-info