TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO SO-CALLED “FORGOTTEN WIDOWS”10 USC 1448 note. ANNUITY PROGRAM.

SEC. 634. TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO SO-CALLED “FORGOTTEN WIDOWS” ANNUITY PROGRAM. (a) Clarification of Eligibility.—Subsection (a)(1) of section 644 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105–85; 10 U.S.C. 1448 note) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after “(A)” the following: “became entitled to retired or retainer pay before September 21, 1972”; and (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking “was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces” and inserting “died”. (b) Clarification of Interaction With Other Benefits.— (1) Subsection (a)(2) of such section is amended by striking “and who” and all that follows through “note)”. (2) Subsection (b)(2) of such section is amended to read as follows: “(2) The amount of an annuity to which a surviving spouse is entitled under this section for any period shall be reduced (but not below zero) by any amount paid to that surviving spouse for the same period under any of the following provisions of law: “(A) Section 1311(a) of title 38, United States Code (relating to dependency and indemnity compensation payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs). “(B) Chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code. “(C) Section 4 of Public Law 92–425 (10 U.S.C. 1448 note).”. (c) Clarification of Definition of Surviving Spouse.—Subsection (d)(2) of such section is amended by striking “the terms” and all that follows through “and (8)” and inserting “such term in paragraph (9)”. (d) Specification in Law of Current Benefit Amount.—Subsection (b) of such section is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking “$165” and inserting “$185.58”; and (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) by striking “the date of the enactment of this Act” and inserting “May 1, 2002,”; and (B) by striking the last sentence. (e) Specification of Enactment Month.—Subsection (e) of such section is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking “the month in which this Act is enacted” and inserting “November 1997”; and (2) in paragraph (2), by striking “the first month that begins after the month in which this Act is enacted” and inserting “December 1997”.116 STAT. 2574