(Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 18, 2025)
FIRST REPRINT S.J.R. 1
- *SJR1_R1*
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1–SENATORS
KRASNER AND STONE
PREFILED JANUARY 13, 2025
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Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections
SUMMARY—Urges Congress to enact legislation allowing certain
eligible surviving spouses of veterans to receive an
amount equal to the military retirement pay of the
veteran after the veteran’s death. (BDR R-55)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: No.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION—Urging Congress to enact
legislation allowing certain eligible surviving spouses of
veterans to receive an amount equal to the military
retirement pay of the veteran after the veteran’s death.
WHEREAS, Certain veterans who serve in the Armed Forces of 1
the United States for a period of at least 20 years or who qualify to 2
retire medically are eligible to receive military retirement pay for 3
their military service; and 4
WHEREAS, Military retirement pay, however, terminates upon 5
the death of the veteran, so many veterans enroll in the Survivor 6
Benefit Plan, which was enacted by Congress in 1972 and which 7
provides a monetary benefit in the form of a lifetime annuity to the 8
surviving spouse or other beneficiary of the veteran upon the 9
veteran’s death; and 10
WHEREAS, A portion of the cost of this annuity is paid from 11
reductions to the veteran’s retirement pay, and the maximum 12
survivor benefit is 55 percent of the retirement pay of the veteran at 13
the time of the veteran’s death; and 14
WHEREAS, The spouses of veterans hold unique and important 15
roles in upholding the strength of the United States as they provide 16
crucial support to their veteran spouses during the veteran’s military 17
service and retirement; and 18
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- *SJR1_R1*
WHEREAS, Allowing an eligible spouse who opted to receive the 1
surviving spouse benefit through the Survivor Benefit Plan to 2
receive an amount equal to the retirement pay of the veteran after 3
the veteran’s death recognizes the many sacrifices that a military 4
spouse also makes in service of this country, including delaying or 5
relinquishing personal and professional aspirations; now, therefore, 6
be it 7
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF 8
NEVADA, JOINTLY, That the members of the 83rd Session of the 9
Nevada Legislature hereby urge Congress to enact legislation 10
allowing an eligible spouse who opted to receive the surviving 11
spouse benefit through the Survivor Benefit Plan to receive an 12
amount equal to the retirement pay of the veteran after the veteran’s 13
death; and be it further 14
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and 15
transmit a copy of this resolution to the Vice President of the United 16
States as the presiding officer of the United States Senate, the 17
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each 18
member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further 19
RESOLVED, That this resolution becomes effective upon 20
passage. 21
H