House Armed Services Committee Advances Rep. Van Epps’ Gold Star Families Act in FY27 NDAA

Today, Rep. Van Epps released the following statement after core components of the HONOR Gold Star Families Act were included in the House Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Now that the NDAA has advanced out of the House Armed Services Committee, the full House is expected to vote on the bill. 

The amendment, introduced by Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and supported by Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02), increases the death gratuity for survivors from $100,000 to $165,000 and includes a cost-of-living adjustment to ensure future payments keep pace with inflation. This is the first major update to the death gratuity since 2006.   

Rep. Van Epps said, “Whether it's being left to raise children on your own or spending the rest of your birthdays without your mother or father present, Gold Star families endure immense pain and grief. The least a grateful nation can do is to ensure that these brave Gold Star families are taken care of financially. That’s why I promised that the first bill I introduced was going to be for Gold Star families.”

He continued, “I’m pleased that a version of my legislation made it into the FY27 NDAA. I am grateful to Rep. Kiggans for introducing this bill and for the House Armed Services Committee for advancing it. Though we can’t ease the grief these military spouses, children, and loved ones feel, we can ease the financial burden. I am glad that my legislation is one step closer to becoming law.” 

More about my HONOR Gold Star Families Act: 

• Read more about the HONOR Gold Star Families Act from the Stewart County Standard here or here or from the Washington Examiner here. 
• Read the media round-up here. 
• Read "What They’re Saying" here and here. Read the American Gold Star Mothers’ endorsement of the bill here. 
• Watch Rep. Van Epps’ video on the HONOR Gold Star Families Act here. 
• Watch Rep. Van Epps’ whiteboard video here. 
• Watch Rep. Van Epps talk about the bill with Newsmax here or News Channel 5 here.  
• Listen to Rep. Van Epps talk about the bill with Liberty Radio here and Michael Patrick Leahy here. 
• See more here, here, here, and here. 
• Rep. Van Epps honors the Month of the Military Child here. 
• Rep. Van Epps honors Gold Star Spouses Day here. 
• Rep. Van Epps honors Medal of Honor Day here. 
• Rep. Van Epps gives a Memorial Day message at a Cheatham County event here and here. He also attends a Memorial Day event in Montgomery County here, commemorates Memorial Day here, and shares a Memorial Day message here.     
• Rep. Van Epps helped clean the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here. 
• Rep. Van Epps gives a Floor speech honoring the Tennessee National Guard here. 
• Rep. Van Epps introduces the Guard Equal Benefits for Federal Missions Act to ensure that National Guard members patrolling U.S. cities receive active-duty benefits for their service, alongside Senator Marsha Blackburn, here.