Overview
Title
An Act To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain spouses eligible for services under the disabled veterans’ outreach program, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
S. 3746 wants to help the husbands and wives of soldiers who get hurt while protecting the country by giving them special services that soldiers get, too. It's like saying, "If your hero can't come back, or if they are hurt, we will help you be okay."
Summary AI
S. 3746 aims to change existing laws to expand the services available to certain spouses under the disabled veterans’ outreach program. The bill modifies Section 4103A of title 38 in the United States Code to include "eligible persons," which now covers military spouses and those whose partner died while serving in the Armed Forces, so they can receive the same support previously only available to eligible veterans.
Published
Keywords AI
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Bill Statistics
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill titled the "Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act" aims to amend a specific section of the United States Code (Title 38) to expand eligibility for certain services. These services are offered under the disabled veterans’ outreach program and are designed to support veterans and their families. The bill seeks to include certain spouses as "eligible persons," allowing them to access these benefits. Generally, this includes spouses who are recognized under section 4101(5) of Title 38 and spouses of individuals who died while serving in the Armed Forces.
Summary of Significant Issues
There are several significant issues identified in the bill that could impact its clarity and effectiveness:
Ambiguity in Eligibility: The bill introduces the term "eligible person" but does not define it until further into the document, potentially causing confusion. Ascertaining eligibility is crucial for accessing the offered benefits, and this delay in clarity might hinder some from understanding their rights promptly.
Complex Language: The amendments involve intricate legal language, with various insertions and modifications that may present difficulties for those not familiar with legislative structures. These complexities can create barriers to understanding and implementing the bill's provisions effectively.
Cross-Referencing Challenges: The bill requires readers to refer to other sections of the United States Code to understand who qualifies as an "eligible person." For those without a legal background, this cross-referencing can be arduous and may hinder full comprehension of the eligibility criteria.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, the bill aims to provide more comprehensive support to families of veterans, recognizing that surviving and Gold Star spouses might need similar services previously limited to veterans themselves. This inclusion can help ease the transition for these spouses into civilian life, providing them with resources and connections that may enhance their career opportunities and overall well-being.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Veterans and Their Families: Positively, by expanding eligibility, the bill recognizes the sacrifices made not only by service members but also by their spouses. It allows more families to benefit from services designed to enhance job skills and employment opportunities.
Gold Star and Surviving Spouses: These individuals might find significant improvements in accessing support and career services, honoring their family members' legacies and aiding their reintegration and stability in civilian life.
Legal and Administrative Bodies: On the downside, the legal and administrative systems handling these services may face challenges adapting to the new eligibility criteria. The complexities and ambiguities in the bill might necessitate additional training and resources to ensure proper implementation and communication of the changes to eligible parties.
In conclusion, while the bill sets out to broaden support and acknowledgment for spouses of military personnel, the legislative language and structural aspects present challenges that need addressing to maximize its effectiveness and ensure those eligible can easily access the intended benefits.
Issues
Ambiguity in eligibility: The term 'eligible person' is introduced in Section 2 but not defined until subsection (e). This delay may cause confusion about who qualifies for the services, particularly as understanding eligibility is crucial for accessing benefits under the program.
Potential issue with clarity and accessibility: The phrase 'any spouse described in section 4101(5) of this title' in Section 2 requires cross-referencing other parts of the United States Code, making it difficult for readers without legal expertise to understand who specifically qualifies without significant effort.
Overly complex language: The amendments in Section 2 involve multiple insertions and modifications which may be difficult to follow, especially for those unfamiliar with legislative language or the existing structure of the United States Code. This complexity could hinder comprehension and effective implementation of the bill.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this act states its short title, which is the "Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act".
2. Eligibility of spouses for services under the disabled veterans’ outreach program Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section of the bill modifies the eligibility criteria for services under the disabled veterans’ outreach program to include certain spouses as "eligible persons." This includes spouses described in a specific section of the title and spouses of individuals who died while serving in the Armed Forces.