S. 1204: Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act

This bill, known as the Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act, aims to expand the eligibility for certain career services offered under the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program to include spouses of military personnel. Here's a breakdown of the key components of the bill:

Amendments to Eligibility Criteria

The bill proposes changes to Section 4103A of title 38, United States Code, which outlines services provided under the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program. The primary focus of these amendments includes:

• Adding the term “eligible persons” alongside “eligible veterans” in various paragraphs of the legislation, indicating that those who qualify for services have been broadened.
• Specifying that these “eligible persons” include spouses of deceased military members as well as certain other individuals connected to veterans.
• Removing language that limits services to what is defined as “non-veteran-related”, making it clearer that spouses too can access needed services related to employment and training.

Definition of Eligible Persons

The bill introduces a definition for “eligible person”, which includes:

• Any spouse described in a specific section of the law, which refers to spouses of veterans.
• The spouse of any person who died while serving in the Armed Forces.

This expansion allows those who are closely connected to veterans and those who have lost their lives in service to receive similar assistance in finding employment and engaging in workforce development programs.

Implications of the Bill

This bill aims to provide additional support for career and training services to the spouses of eligible veterans and those who have died while serving. By broadening eligibility, it could enhance job opportunities and workforce resources for this demographic, potentially helping them to reintegrate into the job market more effectively.

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