Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025

# Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025 - Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would increase financial compensation paid to surviving spouses of veterans who died from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). Currently, surviving spouses only receive this enhanced compensation if the veteran's condition was rated as totally disabling for at least eight continuous years before death. The bill would remove that eight-year requirement, so spouses would receive the higher benefit regardless of how long the veteran had ALS before dying. **Who it affects and key provisions:** The bill primarily affects surviving spouses of veterans with service-connected ALS.

Importantly, it would apply retroactively to veterans who died from ALS on or after October 1, 2022, meaning surviving spouses of those who have already passed away could potentially receive additional benefits. The bill recognizes that ALS is often a rapidly progressing disease that may not meet the current eight-year disability requirement before causing death. **Current status:** The bill was introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in the 119th Congress and is currently awaiting consideration in a Senate committee. It has not yet been voted on or passed.