Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1204
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-19: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T12:53:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act (S. 1204)
Purpose
This legislation aims to expand access to employment and career services under the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) by including certain spouses of veterans and military service members who died in service. The DVOP is a federal program that provides specialized job assistance, primarily to disabled veterans, through dedicated staff at American Job Centers.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Expansion: Amends Section 4103A of Title 38, United States Code, to include "eligible persons" alongside eligible veterans for DVOP services.
- Definition of Eligible Person: Adds a new subsection defining an "eligible person" as:
- Any spouse described in Section 4101(5) of Title 38 (typically surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-connected causes or while receiving VA benefits).
- The spouse of any person who died while serving in the Armed Forces (commonly known as Gold Star spouses).
- Program Adjustments: Updates program language to encompass these spouses in outreach, counseling, and employment services, removing the term "non-veteran-related" to broaden applicability.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, DVOP services under Section 4103A were limited to eligible veterans, focusing on those with service-connected disabilities.
- The bill inserts references to "eligible persons" throughout the section, explicitly extending services to qualifying spouses without altering core veteran eligibility.
- Introduces a formal definition for "eligible person," which did not exist before, ensuring these spouses can access the same specialized employment support as veterans.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Labor (which administers DVOP through the Veterans' Employment and Training Service) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may need to train staff, update guidelines, and allocate resources to serve an expanded group, potentially increasing program costs but improving efficiency in supporting military families.
- On Citizens: Qualifying spouses gain direct access to job placement, resume assistance, and career counseling at no cost, which could help them enter or re-enter the workforce more effectively, especially after losing a service member.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic veteran and family support.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Surviving Spouses and Gold Star Families: Primary beneficiaries, receiving enhanced career services to aid financial stability and employment.
- Veterans and Military Personnel: Indirectly benefits through stronger support networks for their families.
- Federal Agencies: Department of Labor and VA, responsible for implementing and funding the expanded program.
- Employment Service Providers: Local American Job Centers and DVOP specialists, who will handle increased caseloads.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens Title 38 by aligning DVOP with broader VA definitions of eligible family members, promoting consistency in benefits without creating new entitlements; no challenges to existing statutes anticipated.
- Constitutional: Supports equal protection under the law by extending services to spouses based on military sacrifice, without raising due process or funding concerns under the Appropriations Clause.
- Political: Reinforces bipartisan support for veterans' families, potentially setting a precedent for further expansions in military survivor benefits; passed unanimously in the Senate, indicating low controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Cosponsors (8)
Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-19: Held at the desk.
- 2025-12-19: Received in the House.
- 2025-12-19: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2025-12-18: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8895; text: CR S8895)
- 2025-12-18: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-12-18: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-12-18: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-03-31: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act — issued 2025-12-18 — PDF (4 pages)
- Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act — issued 2025-03-31 — PDF (3 pages)