S. 611: Caring for Survivors Act of 2025
A Senate bill (S.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Senate bill (S.) |
| Originating chamber | Senate |
| Introduced | 2025-02-18 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] |
| Policy area | Armed Forces and National Security |
| Cosponsors | 7 |
| Latest action | 2025-03-11 — Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35. |
| Last updated | 2026-07-08 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2025-02-18):
Caring for Survivors Act of 2025
This bill increases the monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Dependency and indemnity compensation is a monthly payment made to eligible survivors (i.e., spouses, parents, or children) of (1) certain veterans who died as a result of a service-connected condition; (2) service members killed while on active military duty or active or inactive duty for training; or (3) veterans who did not die from a service-connected condition, but were totally disabled by a service-connected disability for a certain period of time.
The bill also (1) reduces, from 10 years to 5 years, the period of time that certain veterans must have been rated totally disabled due to a service-connected disability in order for a survivor to qualify for benefits; and (2) specifies the amount that is payable to survivors of veterans who were rated totally disabled for a period of less than 10 years before their death.
Cosponsors (7)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| John Boozman | R AR (original cosponsor) 2025-02-18 |
| Tammy Baldwin | D WI 2025-06-03 |
| Bernard Sanders | I VT 2025-07-21 |
| Patty Murray | D WA 2025-09-17 |
| Tammy Duckworth | D IL 2025-09-29 |
| Elizabeth Warren | D MA 2025-09-30 |
| Andy Kim | D NJ 2025-10-21 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 611 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 611?
S. 611 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: Caring for Survivors Act of 2025.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 611 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).