To increase the amounts payable under the Department of Defense death gratuity program and the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program.

February 1, 2005

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was 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

To increase the amounts payable under the Department of Defense death gratuity program and the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Honoring Fallen Heroes Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN DEATH GRATUITY PAYABLE WITH RESPECT TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

(a) Amount of Death Gratuity- Section 1478(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking `$12,000' and inserting `$100,000'.

(b) Effective Date- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after October 1, 2000.

SEC. 3. INCREASE IN COVERAGE UNDER SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM.

(a) Insurance Coverage- Paragraph (3)(A)(i) of section 1967(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking `$250,000' and inserting `$400,000'.

(b) Conforming Amendment- Section 1967(d) of such title is amended by striking `of $250,000' and inserting `provided for a member under subparagraph (A)(i) of subsection (a)(3)'.

(c) Effective Date- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the first day of the first month that begins more than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(d) Retroactive Applicability of Increase in Maximum SGLI Benefit for Members Dying in Performance of Duty on or After October 1, 2000- Notwithstanding subsection (c), the amendment made by subsection (a) to section 1967(a)(3)(A)(i) of title 38, United States Code, shall take effect as of October 1, 2000, with respect to any member of the uniformed services who died in the performance of duty (as determined by the Secretary concerned) during the period beginning on October 1, 2000, and ending at the date specified in subsection (c) and who on the date of death was insured under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program under subchapter III of chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, for the maximum coverage available under that program on that date.

(e) Definitions- In this section:

(1) SECRETARY CONCERNED- The term `Secretary concerned' has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

(2) UNIFORMED SERVICES- The term `uniformed services' has the meaning given that term in section 1965(6) of title 38, United States Code.

END