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H.R. 2227House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed House

Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act of 2019

Sponsored by Cheri BustosRep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL)
Introduced April 10, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:13 AM UTC

The Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act of 2019 updates the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. It lets servicemembers who suffer a catastrophic injury or illness while serving, or who die in service, end leases on homes or vehicles. The bill also lets a spouse or other dependent end the lease if the servicemember can’t manage their affairs because of the injury or illness.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a provision that a servicemember who incurs a catastrophic injury or illness during military service may terminate a lease on premises or a motor vehicle within one year of the injury or illness.
  • Allows a spouse or dependent to terminate the lease if the injured servicemember lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage their affairs.
  • Defines “catastrophic injury or illness” by reference to existing law and clarifies that “covered service” includes full‑time National Guard duty, active Guard and Reserve duty, or inactive‑duty training.
  • Amends the death provision so that the spouse or dependent of a deceased servicemember may terminate the lease.

Legislative Activity

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13 earlier actions
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

February 27, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 10, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 10, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs SubcommitteeEconomic Opportunity Subcommittee

April 29, 2019

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Discharged.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

October 29, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

October 29, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

October 29, 2019

HouseFloor

Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

February 25, 2020 • 4:17 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1174-1175)

February 25, 2020 • 4:17 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2227.

February 25, 2020 • 4:17 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

February 25, 2020 • 4:26 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1174)

February 25, 2020 • 4:26 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

February 25, 2020 • 4:26 PM

HouseFloor

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

February 25, 2020 • 4:26 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

February 27, 2020

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued February 27, 2020

IIB

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 2227

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 27, 2020

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

AN ACT

To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to clarify the authority of servicemembers who incur a catastrophic injury or illness while in military service to terminate leases of premises and motor vehicles, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act of 2019.

2.

Clarification of termination of leases of premises and motor vehicles of servicemembers who incur catastrophic injury or illness or die while in military service

(a)

Catastrophic injuries and illnesses

Paragraph (4) of section 305(a) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955(a)), as added by section 545 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92), is amended to read as follows:

(4)

Catastrophic injury or illness of lessee

(A)

Termination

If the lessee on a lease described in subsection (b) incurs a catastrophic injury or illness during a period of military service or while performing covered service, during the one-year period beginning on the date on which the lessee incurs such injury or illness—

(i)

the lessee may terminate the lease; or

(ii)

in the case of a lessee who lacks the mental capacity to contract or to manage his or her own affairs (including disbursement of funds without limitation) due to such injury or illness, the spouse or dependent of the lessee may terminate the lease.

(B)

Definitions

In this paragraph:

(i)

The term catastrophic injury or illness has the meaning given that term in section 439(g) of title 37, United States Code.

(ii)

The term covered service means full-time National Guard duty, active Guard and Reserve duty, or inactive-duty training (as such terms are defined in section 101(d) of title 10, United States Code).

.

(b)

Deaths

Paragraph (3) of such section is amended by striking The spouse of the lessee and inserting The spouse or dependent of the lessee.

Passed the House of Representatives February 25, 2020.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk