WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – and Sen. Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) introduced legislation to allow surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers to retain certain survivor benefits if they remarry. 

Under current law, most benefits from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs are terminated for surviving spouses who remarry before age 55. The Love Lives On Act of 2025 would allow surviving spouses to retain these benefits upon remarriage regardless of age.

“No survivor should have to choose between getting married again or keeping the benefits they need to support their family following the loss of their servicemember or veteran spouse,” said Sen. Moran. “Military service is family service and, by making certain that surviving spouses can heal from their loss without fear of losing their benefits, the Love Lives On Act helps recognize the great debt our nation owes to Gold Star families.”

“The men and women in our military serve our country courageously—and their spouses serve our country, too. If one of our heroes loses their life in the line of duty, we should honor our servicemember’s sacrifice by ensuring their spouse can retain survivor benefits if they choose to remarry,” said Sen. Reverend Warnock. “As long as I have the honor to represent Georgia military families in the Senate, I will fight for them as hard as they have fought for our freedoms. I’m proud to continue leading this bipartisan effort to fulfill our promise to these patriots.”

The Love Lives On Act is cosponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Martin Heinrich (D-N.Mex.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

The full text of the legislation can be found here. A letter of support for the bill can be found here.

“TAPS is grateful to Senators Moran, Warnock and our 22 Senate original cosponsors as well as Representatives Hudson, Morrison, Van Orden, Neguse and Khanna for their leadership in reintroducing comprehensive remarriage legislation, the Love Lives On Act of 2025,” said Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). “Their leadership in the last Congress led to the passage of many of the provisions of the Love Lives on Act of 2023 and we look forward to passing the remaining provisions of this important legislation to ensure surviving military spouses retain their benefits upon remarriage at any age. Surviving spouses should not have to choose between finding love again and financial security.”

Sen. Moran authored an amendment to the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that allows surviving spouses of military servicemembers to maintain their access to commissaries and exchanges on U.S. military bases if they remarry. Additionally, Sen. Moran introduced the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act – which was signed into last month – and includes provisions supporting surviving spouses, including by allowing them to maintain VA education benefits upon remarriage.