An Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to make certain changes in the Survivor Benefit Plan provided for under subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code, and for other purposes.
Public Law 94-496 · H.R. 14773 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 14, 1976 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Samuel Stratton (D-NY-28)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. George O’Brien
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Revises the Survivor-Benefit Program for retired military personnel by eliminating payments into the Survivor Benefit Program when a beneficiary predeceases the retiree. Reduces to one year the eligibility period for a new spouse of a retiree to be eligible under the Military Survivor Benefit Program. Permits a retiree to leave benefits to children when there is a surviving spouse. Increases the minimum-income payment to specified widows from $1,400 to $2,100 annually.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 16 actions.
- Oct 14, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-496.
- Oct 6, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 5, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 1, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Sep 28, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Armed Services Committee
- Sep 22, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Armed Services Committee
- Sep 20, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #762 (379-6).House roll call 762
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Sep 17, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Appropriations Committee
- Sep 1, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Appropriations Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
- Jul 20, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.