US Federal House Bill HB2631

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/3/25
• Refer: 4/3/25

Caption

Protecting Gold Star Spouses Act of 2025

Summary

HB2631, titled the Protecting Gold Star Spouses Act of 2025, would provide interim appropriations for the Coast Guard Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection and Survivor Benefits Plans for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2024. In practical terms, the bill authorizes funding needed to continue payments under these survivor and family protection programs until a later appropriations law is enacted. The measure is framed as a stopgap funding bill to avoid interruption in benefits. The bill specifies that the appropriations would come from the Treasury as necessary and would operate at the rate and under the same terms and conditions as the most recent full-year appropriations law for these programs. It also includes a standard adjustment clause: if Congress later enacts a subsequent appropriation or a general Coast Guard appropriations bill that covers these benefits, spending under this bill would be charged to the later appropriation and the interim funds would no longer be available after that enactment.

Impact

HB2631 would affect federal appropriations law by creating a continuing interim funding authority for the Coast Guard’s retired servicemember family protection and survivor benefit programs. It would not create a new benefit program or change eligibility rules, but it would ensure uninterrupted payment authority for survivor and family protection benefits after fiscal year 2024 until Congress passes a later appropriations measure. The bill primarily affects the Coast Guard, beneficiaries of the retired servicemember family protection plan, and surviving spouses and family members who rely on these payments.

Sentiment

Based on the available context, the bill appears to be noncontroversial and supportive in purpose, with a clear focus on protecting survivor benefits for Coast Guard families. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes indicating opposition or debate in the provided materials. The title and structure suggest a bipartisan or routine appropriations fix intended to prevent a lapse in benefits.

Contention

No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided record. Because there are no committee transcripts or votes, there is no evidence of disagreement over the need for interim funding, the scope of the appropriations authority, or the mechanics of how the bill would interact with later appropriations. If any concerns were to arise, they would likely center on appropriations procedure, budget authority, or whether the funding should be handled in a broader Coast Guard spending bill rather than a standalone measure.