Committee hears SJR 1 urging Congress to improve surviving-spouse military retirement benefits

Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR 1) was presented to the Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections by Sen. Lisa Krasner calling on Congress to consider legislation to provide surviving spouses of military retirees with an amount equal to the veteran’s military retirement pay.

Sen. Lisa Krasner, R-District 16, described the limits of existing federal programs and said SJR 1 urges Congress to simplify and improve survivor benefits. Krasner summarized the federal Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), which provides an annuity to an enrolled surviving spouse but currently caps that payment at a maximum of 55% of the deceased service member’s retirement pay. She cited Department of Defense figures (as presented) that Nevada has more than 30,000 military retirees and roughly 3,700 surviving spouses receiving SBP annuities in fiscal year 2022–23.

Why it matters: Supporters said awarding surviving spouses more of a deceased veteran’s retirement pay would recognize the spouse’s sacrifices and provide financial security. Veterans organizations said the current program is inadequate for many surviving spouses who had to forego careers to support service members.

Support and testimony: Witnesses in support included Fred Wagner, representing the Nevada chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV), who called awarding 100% of a veteran’s retirement pay to a surviving spouse “a recognition of the spouse’s invaluable contribution and sacrifices.” Andrew Lapelvic, state chairman of the United Veterans Legislative Council for Nevada, and retired service members including Mark Vlastin and John Strahan also testified in support.

Committee clarifications: Assemblymember Moore asked whether the proposed assistance would apply only to retirees who signed up for the Survivor Benefit Plan. Krasner said an amendment worked on with a cosponsor (Sen. Daley) specified that the benefit would require sign-up, meaning the program would not automatically apply to all retirees without enrollment. Krasner and witnesses discussed complexities of federal calculations and other federal death-benefit programs.

Outcome and next steps: The committee took testimony and closed the hearing; there was no recorded committee vote during this session. SJR 1, as a joint resolution urging federal action, would send the legislature’s position to Congress if adopted in this or a later committee vote.

Ending note: Supporters urged the committee to forward the resolution to communicate Nevada’s support for changes to the SBP and related federal survivor-benefit rules.