Plain Language Summary
# WISER Act of 2025 Summary **What It Does:** The WISER Act (Women Involuntarily Separated Earning Remittance Act) would compensate women veterans who were forced out of the military between 1951 and 1976 for becoming pregnant, having children, or gaining custody of children. The bill would allow these veterans to upgrade their military discharge status (which currently may be unfavorable) and provide a one-time $25,000 payment from the Department of Defense. The Department of Veterans Affairs would also be required to recognize these women as eligible for various veteran benefits they may have been denied due to their original discharge status. **Who It Affects:** This bill specifically targets women who were involuntarily separated from military service under Executive Order 10240, which permitted the military to discharge women for pregnancy, parenthood, or step-parenthood.
These veterans, now in their late 60s or older, were denied benefits and career opportunities decades ago due to policies that no longer exist. Veterans would need to apply to participate in the upgrade and compensation programs. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced in January 2025 by Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Women Involuntarily Separated Earning Remittance Act of 2025 or the WISER Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish and implement certain programs to address the involuntary separation of women veterans who served during the period of April 27, 1951, through February 23, 1976, under Executive Order 10240. Such order provided for the involuntary separation of women from service for (1) being a parent via birth or adoption, (2) gaining custody of a child, (3) being a step-parent who lived with the child more than 30 days per year, (4) being pregnant, or (5) giving birth to a living child while serving.The VA must establish and implement a program to upgrade the discharge status of such women veterans, and DOD must establish and implement a program to provide them with a one-time compensation of $25,000. Veterans must apply to participate in such programs.For benefits purposes, the VA must treat veterans who receive a discharge status upgrade as if the veteran completed the duty to which the veteran was assigned at the time they were discharged from service.If a veteran dies after the enactment of this bill, a surviving spouse is eligible to participate in the DOD compensation program.The bill provides a rebuttable presumption of eligibility for the programs for a veteran who gave birth, obtained custody, adopted a child, or experienced an incomplete pregnancy during the 10-month period after the veteran was separated from service.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.