EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUITIES TO CERTAIN MILITARY SURVIVING SPOUSES.

SEC. 656. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUITIES TO CERTAIN MILITARY SURVIVING SPOUSES. (a) Coverage of Surviving Spouses of All “Gray-Area” Retirees.—Subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 644 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105–85; 111 Stat. 1800; 10 U.S.C. 1448 note) is amended by striking “during the period beginning on September 21, 1972, and ending on” and inserting “before”. (b) Permanent Authority for Payment of Annuities.—Subsection (f) of such section is repealed. (c) Effective Date.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to annuities payable for months beginning after September 30, 1999.