S. 385Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 3:05 AM UTC

The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to periodically reassess the automatic maximum life‑insurance coverage for active‑duty servicemembers and veterans. Every five years, starting in 2026, the VA will adjust the coverage amount based on inflation measured by the CPI, and report the findings to Congress. This aims to keep the coverage amount aligned with cost‑of‑living changes for service members and their families.

Key Provisions

Starting Jan 1 2026 and every five years after, the VA Secretary must review the automatic maximum coverage amount for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI).
The review compares the current statutory maximum to a new amount calculated as $500,000 multiplied by the average percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the five fiscal years before the review.
The Secretary must send the review results to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees, which can use the findings to guide future coverage increases.
The bill adds a new Section 1980B to Title 38 and updates the table of sections to list this new provision.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

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

Veterans' Affairs Committee

February 4, 2025

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 4, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

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

Veterans' Affairs Committee

February 4, 2025

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in SenateIssued February 4, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 385

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 4, 2025

Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. King) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

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.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025.

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, 2026, 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.