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S. 1299Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)Passed Senate

Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2024

Sponsored by John CornynSen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
Introduced April 26, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 6:42 AM UTC

The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2024 amends Title 38 to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review the automatic maximum coverage for the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) programs. The review occurs every five years starting January 1, 2025 and uses Consumer Price Index changes to adjust the coverage amount. Results must be reported to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees, potentially guiding future coverage increases. The law affects service members and veterans who rely on these group life insurance benefits.

Key Provisions

  • Mandates a review of automatic maximum coverage on Jan 1 2025 and every five years thereafter.
  • Calculates a new coverage amount as $500,000 multiplied by the average CPI change over the five fiscal years preceding the review.
  • Requires the Secretary to submit the review results to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees as guidance for coverage adjustments.
  • Defines the Consumer Price Index as the CPI‑U published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Adds a new Section 1980B to the U.S. Code and updates the table of sections accordingly.

Legislative Activity

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7 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 18, 2024 • 6:25 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 26, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

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

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 26, 2023

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

December 17, 2024

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7096)

December 17, 2024

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7096)

December 17, 2024

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 18, 2024

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 18, 2024 • 6:01 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 18, 2024 • 6:25 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 1299 on the floor

1 Democrat
Charles E. Schumer
Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Dec 17, 2024

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 1299 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I ask…

Record

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued December 17, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 1299

AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to periodically review the automatic maximum coverage under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program and the Veterans’ Group Life Insurance program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2024.

2.

Periodic review of automatic maximum coverage under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance and Veterans’ Group Life insurance

(a)

In general

Subchapter III of chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1980B.

Periodic review of automatic maximum coverage

(a)

In general

On January 1, 2025, and every five years thereafter, the Secretary shall—

(1)

complete a review of how the amount specified in section 1967(a)(3)(A)(i) compares to the amount described in subsection (b); and

(2)

submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate the results of the review, which may serve as a guide for coverage increases within the existing administrative incremental structure.

(b)

Amount described

The amount described in this subsection is the amount equal to—

(1)

$500,000; multiplied by

(2)

the average percentage by which the Consumer Price Index changed during the five fiscal years preceding the review under subsection (a).

(c)

Consumer Price Index defined

In this section, the term Consumer Price Index means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 19 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1980A the following new item:

1980B. Periodic review of automatic maximum coverage.

.

Passed the Senate December 17 (legislative day, December 16), 2024.

Secretary