Political Quotes

“I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To revise the definition of spouse for purposes of veterans benefits in recognition of new State definitions of spouse) At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following: SEC. 1085. DEFINITION OF SPOUSE FOR PURPOSES OF VETERANS BENEFITS TO REFLECT NEW STATE DEFINITIONS OF SPOUSE. (a) Spouse Defined.--Section 101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``of the opposite sex''; and (2) by striking paragraph (31) and inserting the following new paragraph: ``(31)(A) An individual shall be considered a `spouse' if-- ``(i) the marriage of the individual is valid in the State in which the marriage was entered into; or ``(ii) in the case of a marriage entered into outside any State-- ``(I) the marriage of the individual is valid in the place in which the marriage was entered into; and ``(II) the marriage could have been entered into in a State. ``(B) In this paragraph, the term `State' has the meaning given that term in paragraph (20), except that the term also includes the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.''. (b) Marriage Determination.--Section 103(c) of such title is amended by striking ``according to'' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``in accordance with section 101(31) of this title.''.”