Congress · Laws

Veterans' and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act of 1978

Public Law 95-588 · H.R. 10173 · 95th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 4, 1978 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Rep. Sonny Montgomery (D-MS-3)

Cosponsors (7): Rep. Herbert Roberts, Rep. John Hammerschmidt,

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 387 yea, 1 nay387–1
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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Veterans' and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act - =Title I: Pension for Veterans and Survivors= - Establishes rates for pensions which may be elected in lieu of regular pensions by: (1) veterans of a period of war who are permanently and totally disabled from a non-service- connected disability; and (2) surviving spouses or children of veterans of a period of war of deceased veterans entitled to compensation or retirement pay for a service-connected disability.

Specifies exclusions from the determination of annual income of such veterans and survivors.

Provides that any veteran, surviving spouse, or child receiving a pension under this Title or the Veterans' Pension Act of 1959 may elect at any time to receive such pension instead of another such pension. Makes election of benefits irrevocable.

Requires persons applying for an improved pension to report the income and estate of each spouse and child on account of whom such added pension is applied for or received.

=Title II: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Surviving Parents= - Establishes an improved program for parents of veterans receiving dependency and indemnity compensation. Limits eligibility for such improved pension to parents residing within the 50 States or District of Columbia. Allows parents who reside outside of the 50 States and the District of Columbia and who become eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation, after the effective date of the improved program, to apply for and receive benefits available under existing law.

Sets forth exclusions in determining annual income of surviving parents applying for or receiving benefits under such improved program.

=Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions and Conforming Amendments, Definition of "Pension"= Requires annual adjustments of security pension rates in conjunction with cost-of-living increases in Social Security benefits.

Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to carry out a comprehensive study of the income characteristics of veterans of a period of war and their survivors who are residing outside the 50 States and the District of Columbia.

=Title IV: Effective Date= - Sets the effective date of this Act as January 1, 1979.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 95th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 390 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

390 yea0 nay40 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(257)

Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24
Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6
Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Joseph LeFanteD-NJ-14
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
Rep. John DentD-PA-21
Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-15
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
Rep. James TuckerD-AR-2
Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7
Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
Rep. David CornwellD-IN-8
Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1
Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
Rep. James MannD-SC-4
Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
Rep. James SantiniD-NV
Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
Rep. Robert GammageD-TX-22
Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
Rep. Lawrence McDonaldD-GA-7

Republicans who voted yea(133)

Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
Rep. Newton SteersR-MD-8
Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
Rep. Bruce CaputoR-NY-23
Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4
Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
Rep. John CunninghamR-WA-7
Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
Rep. Dan QuayleR-IN-4
Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-33
Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
Rep. Steven SymmsR-ID-1
Rep. James CollinsR-TX-3

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1524 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Veterans' Affairs Committee · House · referred to, reported by

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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.

Nov 4, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-588.
Oct 25, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
Oct 14, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #925 (387-1).House roll call 925
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #925 (387-1).House roll call 925
Oct 12, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 95-1329.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 95-1329.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1768.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1768.
Sep 26, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
Sep 25, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
Jul 31, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2384, roll call #263 (85-0).Senate roll call 263
FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
Jun 28, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #507 (398-5).House roll call 507
FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
May 31, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Veterans' Affairs Committee
Nov 30, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Veterans' Affairs 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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.