Supporters of a bipartisan bill that aims to end the "remarriage penalty" that strips military survivors of their benefits if they remarry before age 55 recently testified before Congress, urging passage of the legislation.
The Love Lives On Act would allow widows of fallen servicemembers to remarry at any age without losing their financial benefits. Under current law, surviving spouses must surrender these benefits if they remarry before age 55. The penalty impacts about 30,000 military families.
Surviving spouse Anita Sullivan was among those testifying in support of the bill on March 4. The Navy was a huge part of who her husband, Michael, was, she said. He served for five years as a Seabee and left the service with significant physical and mental health issues.
“But, he was also an amazing dad. He was very involved in our community, coached baseball, was involved in our church, worked with kids, loved being involved with anything to do with um helping the teenagers in our church or coaching baseball,” she said.
The couple was married for almost 20 years and has three children: a 22-year-old who is in college, a 16-year-old, and a 11-year-old, Sophia.
“Every photo you will probably ever see of me and him, I'm in his arms,” said Sophia.
The Sullivan kids were four, nine, and 15 when Michael died, said Anita.
“They were just the absolute joy of his life,” Anita said. “They kept him going and gave him, you know, reason to fight through all of the hardships and difficulties he faced.”
Because of Michael’s physical and mental health issues, Anita said she spent a lot of her time as his caregiver. He was hospitalized 35 times after leaving the Navy.
“He had a lot of good days, but he had a lot of his time marked by being sick,” said Antia. “And eventually died in 2019, February 9th, 2019, of what was deemed service-connected suicide.”
As the years since Michael’s death have passed, Anita has found new love, but marriage would be difficult because of the financial implications of losing her military benefits.
“Those benefits really have no correlation at all to marital status,” she said. “They are not based in any way on marital status. It simply makes no logical sense why it would end based on marriage and especially based on a certain age. There's no reason why at age 54 you would lose your benefits, but age 55 you would not. These are benefits that have either been paid into with the spouse or have been paid by sacrifice and service.”
“My mom fell in love with someone who I would really wish to be my father figure, he makes my mom happy,” added Sophia. “And as long as my mom is happy I'm happy.”
The bill was introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) with 22 original cosponsors and Reps. Richard Hudson (R-NC), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), and Ro Khanna (D-CA).
The Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors (TAPS) is spearheading the effort to pass the legislation, which is also backed by more than 50 Veteran Service Organizations.
“He never would be replaced as either a spouse or a father,” said Anita of Michael. “Even as we move on and find new joy, new love, make new memories, he is included in that.”
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
