FAIRNESS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACT OF 2025

On 2025-04-07, Representative Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) delivered a floor speech titled "FAIRNESS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACT OF 2025" in the House.

FAIRNESS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 62 (Monday, April 7, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 62 (Monday, April 7, 2025)] [House] [Pages H1439-H1441] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] FAIRNESS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACT OF 2025 Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill [[Page H1440]] (H.R. 970) to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to periodically review the automatic maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program and the Veterans' Group Life Insurance program, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 970 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. PERIODIC REVIEW OF AUTOMATIC MAXIMUM COVERAGE UNDER SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE AND VETERANS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 1980B. Periodic review of automatic maximum coverage ``(a) In General.--On January 1, 2026, and every five years thereafter, the Secretary shall-- ``(1) complete a review of how the amount specified in section 1967(a)(3)(A)(i) compares to the amount described in subsection (b); and ``(2) submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate the results of the review, which may serve as a guide for coverage increases within the existing administrative incremental structure. ``(b) Amount Described.--The amount described in this subsection is the amount equal to-- ``(1) $500,000; multiplied by ``(2) the average percentage by which the Consumer Price Index changed during the five fiscal years preceding the review under subsection (a). ``(c) Consumer Price Index Defined.--In this section, the term `Consumer Price Index' means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 19 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1980A the following new item: ``1980B. Periodic review of automatic maximum coverage.''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois. General Leave Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 970. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Illinois? There was no objection. Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 970 offered by my colleague from Washington (Ms. Strickland). H.R. 970 would require the VA to regularly review and compare the maximum coverage for VA life insurance programs to keep them in line with the average cost-of-living changes. The maximum coverage of these programs is provided by law and under current law does not automatically adjust for changes in cost of living. Any increases in the maximum coverage for these programs require congressional action. We must ensure that we have all the data we need to make an informed decision on whether the maximum coverage has kept pace with the cost of living. The bill would help us do that by ensuring that the VA sends Congress the results of the VA review so that we can decide whether to adjust the maximum coverage for VA life insurance programs. We are duty bound to ensure that the families of our veterans are taken care of after their loved one passes away. This commonsense bill would provide us with the data to help Congress do just that. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 970, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 970, the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025. Mr. Speaker, just a few short years ago we increased the maximum coverage amount under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program and the Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) program from $400,000 to $500,000. Prior to that, however, those maximum coverage amounts had not been increased since 2005, clearly failing to keep pace with inflation. To ensure that we are not waiting another decade or more to improve this benefit for our servicemembers and veterans, my good friend Representative Marilyn Strickland has introduced this bill which requires the VA to periodically review coverage amounts every 5 years and report to Congress what the level of benefits would be if adjusted for inflation over that period. This will allow Congress to regularly make a more informed decision about whether or not these maximum coverage amounts should be increased. Mr. Speaker, this is commonsense legislation that allows Congress to better do our job to support servicemembers, veterans, and their families. This legislation passed the House last Congress, and I encourage my colleagues to support it once again. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the State of Washington (Ms. Strickland), my good friend and author of this bill. She currently serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Armed Services. Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Takano for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for my bill, H.R. 970, the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025. I first thank Chairmen Bost and Luttrell and Ranking Members Takano and McGarvey for working with me to get this bill to the floor. I also thank my partners in this effort, Congressman Keith Self and Senator John Cornyn. The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act will help ensure that life insurance benefits for servicemembers and veterans account for changes in the economy. This bill will require the Department of Veterans Affairs to periodically review and report on the maximum coverage available under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance. Accurate and reliable data will allow the VA to make necessary policy adjustments to ensure accurate payments. I have the honor of representing Joint Base Lewis-McChord, home to tens of thousands of servicemembers and their families. Our servicemembers courageously put their lives on the line for our country, and we must secure the well-being of their families and loved ones in the event of a tragedy. Servicemembers' life insurance plans must keep pace with economic demands. A robust life insurance policy can provide a grieving family with the financial security they need to navigate the loss of their loved ones and do so with dignity. The brave men and women who sacrifice their lives deserve peace of mind, knowing their families will be taken care of. For nearly two decades, the maximum coverage of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs has been stagnant, even as the costs of housing, goods, and services have risen over the past 20 years. {time} 1730 This bill ensures that these programs are reviewed periodically to verify their value sufficiently and to make sure they are updated to the current CPI or Consumer Price Index. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I thank my colleagues for their unwavering commitment to supporting veterans. I look forward to it being passed and signed into law. Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 970, the Fairness for Servicemembers and Their Families Act, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 970, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 970. [[Page H1441]] The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR970, HR970