Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3031
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-11: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-24T22:14:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act" (H.R. 3031) aims to expand access to employment and career services under the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP). DVOP is a federal program that helps eligible veterans, particularly those with disabilities, find jobs through specialized counselors. This bill extends these services to certain spouses of veterans and military members to support their career needs after a loved one's service or death.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Expansion: Amends Section 4103A of Title 38, U.S. Code, to include "eligible persons" alongside eligible veterans in DVOP services. This covers job counseling, placement assistance, and outreach activities.
- Definition of Eligible Person: Adds a new subsection (e) defining an "eligible person" as:
- Any spouse described in Section 4101(5) of Title 38 (typically surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-related causes or disabilities).
- The spouse of any person who died while serving in the Armed Forces (often called Gold Star spouses).
- Administrative Updates: Removes the term "non-veteran-related" from funding references and inserts language to integrate eligible persons into program operations, ensuring they receive the same level of support as veterans.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, DVOP services were limited to veterans, focusing on those with service-connected disabilities (10% or more) or other eligible categories.
- This bill broadens the program to explicitly include qualifying spouses, marking the first major inclusion of non-veteran family members in core DVOP eligibility.
- No changes to funding mechanisms, but it aligns program language to treat eligible spouses equivalently in outreach, counseling, and job placement.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and state workforce agencies may need to train additional staff and adjust program administration to handle increased eligibility, potentially raising operational costs slightly but enhancing service delivery without new funding mandates.
- On Citizens: Surviving spouses and Gold Star spouses gain direct access to free, specialized career services, which could improve their employment prospects, financial stability, and mental health by providing targeted support during transitions.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. veterans' affairs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Surviving spouses of disabled or deceased veterans, and Gold Star spouses (widows or widowers of active-duty service members who died in service).
- Service Providers: VA employees, DVOP counselors, and state employment agencies that deliver the program.
- Broader Groups: Veterans' families and advocacy organizations, such as those representing Gold Star families, who may see improved support networks.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens Title 38's framework for veterans' benefits by extending family support without altering eligibility criteria for veterans themselves; complies with existing statutes like Section 4101, avoiding conflicts.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under Article I, Section 8 to provide for the military and support veterans, promoting equal protection for military families without raising due process or equal rights issues.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan effort to honor military sacrifices by aiding families, potentially increasing support for veterans' programs; could set precedent for further expansions to other dependents, influencing future VA policy debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-11: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2025-05-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
- 2025-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-04-28: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act — issued 2025-04-28 — PDF (3 pages)