H.R. 1004: Love Lives On Act of 2025
Sponsor
Richard Hudson
Republican · NC-9
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Feb 3, 2026
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Why it matters
More military families will keep vital financial support, even if they remarry.
For decades, widows and widowers of military service members lost government benefits if they remarried—putting many in an impossible choice between love and financial security. The Love Lives On Act changes that, letting surviving spouses keep their benefits even if they marry again.
This bill updates two main benefit programs: the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the military's Survivor Benefit Plan. Before this change, remarriage usually cut off these payments or reduced them sharply.
Advocates say this fixes a long-standing injustice. It recognizes that surviving spouses shouldn't be penalized for moving forward with their lives. With broad bipartisan support (135+ cosponsors), it sails through committees focused on armed services and veterans’ issues.
The shift could bring big peace of mind to thousands of families, although some cost uncertainty remains—how many surviving spouses will now keep getting benefits?
What does H.R. 1004 do?
Protects Benefits After Remarriage
Surviving spouses can keep veterans benefits, like DIC, even if they remarry.
Updates the Survivor Benefit Plan
Surviving spouses also keep military retirement survivor payments if they remarry.
Cleans Up Outdated Rules
Changes old laws that took away or reduced benefits after remarriage.
Broader Definition of Eligible Spouses
Clarifies who counts as a 'surviving spouse' for these benefits.
Directs Agencies to Update Policies
Requires the VA and Defense Department to change their regulations to reflect this new policy.
Who benefits from H.R. 1004?
Surviving spouses of veterans
They can remarry without losing key financial benefits.
Children of deceased service members
They may have more financial stability if their parent remarries.
Future military families
Less stress about financial security after a service member’s death.
Remarried survivors
They gain independence without sacrificing financial help.
Who is affected by H.R. 1004?
Current surviving spouses considering remarriage
They can now remarry without risking benefits.
Federal government (VA and DoD)
Needs to update systems and may pay more in benefits.
Taxpayers
Potential for slightly increased federal spending on survivor benefits.
Veterans groups
May shift advocacy focus as a long-running issue is resolved.
H.R. 1004 Common Questions
Can military widows keep VA DIC benefits if they remarry under the Love Lives On Act?
Yes. Under the Love Lives On Act of 2025, remarriage would no longer bar a surviving spouse from receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under section 1311 of title 38 (SEC. 2).
Does the Love Lives On Act let remarried military spouses keep Survivor Benefit Plan payments?
Yes. Under the Love Lives On Act of 2025, the Defense Department may not stop a Survivor Benefit Plan annuity for certain surviving spouses of members who died on active duty solely because they remarry (SEC. 3).
When would Survivor Benefit Plan payments restart for spouses who lost them after remarrying before age 55?
According to HR1004 Section 3, payments would resume one year after enactment for most affected surviving spouses who remarried before age 55, unless they had transferred the annuity to a child.
Can a remarried military widow get SBP payments back immediately if the benefit was transferred to a child?
Yes. Under the Love Lives On Act of 2025 (SEC. 3), if the surviving spouse had transferred the annuity to a surviving child under prior law, payment resumes on the first day of the first month after enactment.
Can a remarried widow or widower get TRICARE again after divorce or the death of a new spouse?
Yes. Under the Love Lives On Act of 2025, a remarried widow or widower whose later marriage ended by death, divorce, or annulment is added to TRICARE's dependent definition (SEC. 4).
What events make a remarried widow or widower eligible again under TRICARE?
According to HR1004 Section 4, the later marriage must have ended by death, divorce, or annulment for the remarried widow or widower to be included in TRICARE's dependent definition.
Does remarriage still block education benefits for a surviving spouse of a veteran under this bill?
No. Under the Love Lives On Act of 2025, remarriage would not bar benefits under section 1562 of title 38 for the surviving spouse of a veteran (SEC. 2).
Does the Love Lives On Act apply only to surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty for SBP protection?
For the new remarriage protection in the Survivor Benefit Plan, yes. HR1004 Section 3 specifically covers surviving spouses described in 10 U.S.C. 1448(d)(1), which applies to members who die on active duty.
Based on H.R. 1004 bill text
HR1004 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Feb 3, 2026
Subcommittee Hearings Held
House: Committee Action
Mar 6, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
House: Committee Action
Feb 5, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
About the Sponsor
Richard Hudson
Republican, North Carolina's 9th congressional district · 13 years in Congress
Committees: Energy and Commerce
View full profile →
Cosponsors (135)
This bill has 135 cosponsors: 100 Democrats, 35 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 39 states: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, and 36 more.
Joe Neguse
Democrat · CO
Derrick Van Orden
Republican · WI
Kelly Morrison
Democrat · MN
Morgan Luttrell
Republican · TX
Ro Khanna
Democrat · CA
Gabe Amo
Democrat · RI
Salud Carbajal
Democrat · CA
Nikki Budzinski
Democrat · IL
Sharice Davids
Democrat · KS
Angie Craig
Democrat · MN
André Carson
Democrat · IN
Morgan McGarvey
Democrat · KY
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Veterans' Affairs Committee
17 of 25 committee members cosponsored
Armed Services Committee
28 of 57 committee members cosponsored
24 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 1004 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Veterans' Affairs
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Introduced
- Feb 5, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Feb 3, 2026
H.R. 1004 Bill Text
“To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for surviving spouses, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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