Both of Georgia’s U.S. Senators support a bipartisan bill that could yield support for Metro Augusta’s military population.
Called the Love Lives On Act of 2025, it is championed by Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) with nearly two dozen co-sponsors, including Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). This legislation specifically amends Title 10 and Title 38 of the U.S. Code.
Currently, benefits from the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs are terminated if the surviving spouse remarries before the age of 55. If passed, the new law would permit spouses of military personnel who died while on active duty to continue receiving benefits if they remarry at any age.
“The men and women in our military serve our country courageously, and their spouses serve our country, too. If one of our heroes loses their life in the line of duty, we should honor our servicemember’s sacrifice by ensuring their spouse can retain survivor benefits if they choose to remarry,” said Senator Reverend Warnock in a news release announcing the legislation. “As long as I have the honor to represent Georgia military families in the Senate, I will fight for them as hard as they have fought for our freedoms. I’m proud to continue leading this bipartisan effort to fulfill our promise to these patriots.”
Dr. Tom Clark, Executive Director of the Alliance for Fort Eisenhower, told ABD this measure will satisfy a promise made to service members and their families.
“I would say it would be life-changing for someone who perhaps lost their spouse in combat when they were both in their early 20s or 30s,” he said. “They have a long life to live, and I’m sure their service member would want them to be happy and to enjoy the benefits that the service member earned while they were a family, so I think it’s significant.”
Ossoff released a statement saying this legislation fulfills a duty to surviving military spouses.
“Our nation has a solemn duty to honor and support the families of fallen service members,” Sen. Ossoff said. “This bipartisan bill ensures surviving spouses can rebuild their lives without losing the benefits they’ve earned.”
Sen. Moran is chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. In the news release, he said no surviving spouse should have to choose between retaining earned benefits or getting re-married.
“Military service is family service, and by making certain that surviving spouses can heal from their loss without fear of losing their benefits, the Love Lives On Act helps recognize the great debt our nation owes to Gold Star families,” said Moran.
Clark said the announcement of this legislation comes in an especially timely manner for the Alliance for Fort Eisenhower.
“We always promote, coordinate, and navigate on behalf of our region’s number one employer, Fort Eisenhower,” he explained. “The Chambers all take a trip up to D.C. It’s coming very soon, the greater Augusta trip and we can add this to our list of things that we’d like to discuss while we’re up there.”
The Love Lives On Act is available at
https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/8B09EEE8-304C-4624-A6F5-9A4BC4E624FD
Additional cosponsors of the measure are: Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Fetterman (D-PA.), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
