118 STAT. 1958 PUBLIC LAW 108–375—OCT. 28, 2004 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (c) of such section is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘that pursuant to the second sentence of subsection (a)(1) is subject to this subsection’’ after ‘‘a qualified retiree’’. SEC. 643. DEATH BENEFITS ENHANCEMENT. (a) ACTIONS ON FISCAL YEAR 2004 DEATH BENEFITS STUDY.— (1) The Secretary of Defense shall expedite the completion and submission of the report, which was due on March 1, 2004, of the results of the study of the Federal death benefits for survivors of deceased members of the Armed Forces required by section 647(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136; 117 Stat. 1520). (2) The President should promptly transmit to Congress any recommendation for legislation, together with a request for appro priations, that the President determines necessary to implement any death benefits enhancements that are recommended in the report referred to in paragraph(1). (b) INCREASES OF DEATH GRATUITY CONSISTENT WITH INCREASES OF RATES OF BASIC PAY.—Section 1478 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘(as adjusted under sub section (c))’’ before the period at the end of the first sentence; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: ‘‘(c) Effective on the date on which rates of basic pay under section 204 of title 37 are increased under section 1009 of that title or any other provision of law, the amount of the death gratuity in effect under subsection (a) shall be increased by the same overall average percentage of the increase in the rates of basic pay taking effect on that date.’’. (c) FISCAL YEAR 2005 ACTIONS.—At the same time that the President transmits to Congress the budget for fiscal year 2006 under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the President shall transmit to Congress assessments and recommendations regarding legislation on proposals that would provide enhanced death benefits for survivors of deceased members of the uniformed services. Those assessments and recommendations regarding legis lation shall include provisions for the following: (1) Revision of the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program under chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, to provide for— (A) an increase in the maximum benefit amount pro vided under that program from $250,000 to $350,000; (B) an increase, each fiscal year, in that maximum benefit amount by the same overall average percentage increase that takes effect during such fiscal year in the rates of basic pay under section 204 of title 37, United States Code; and (C) a minimum benefit amount of $100,000 at no cost to the insured members of the uniformed services who elect the maximum coverage, together with an increase in such minimum benefit each fiscal year by the same percentage increase as is described in subparagraph (B). (2) An additional set of death benefits for each member of the uniformed services who dies in the line of duty while President.
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