Uniformed Services Survivors' Benefits Amendments of 1978
Public Law 95-397 · H.R. 3702 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Sep 30, 1978 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Samuel Stratton (D-NY-28)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Bob Wilson
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.
(House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments)
Uniformed Services Survivors' Benefits Amendments - =Title I: Annuities Under Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan= - Requires increase in the annuities payable under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) to spouses or children of deceased members of the armed forces who died before March 20, 1974, whenever retired or retainer pay is increased to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Makes such adjustments retroactive for retired or retainer pay adjustments since September 21, 1972.
Permits RSFPP plan annuities to continue upon remarriage after age 60.
=Title II: Annuities Under Survivor Benefit Plan= - Grants annuities to the survivors of individuals who would have been eligible for retired military pay for non-regular service but who died before reaching the age of 60. Establishes formulae for computing such benefits.
=Title III: Medical and Dental Care= - Entitles such survivors to specified medical and dental benefits.
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. 15 actions.
- Sep 30, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-397.
- Sep 26, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Sep 25, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 22, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Sep 19, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments.
- Aug 24, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Aug 22, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Armed Services Committee
- Sep 13, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Armed Services Committee
- Sep 12, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #542 (391-0).House roll call 542
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Mar 14, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
- Feb 17, 1977CommitteeCommittee · 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.