WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Reps. Matt Van Epps (TN-07), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the bipartisan Honoring Our Nation’s Obligation to Remember (HONOR) Gold Star Families Act. This legislation doubles the military “death gratuity” or bridge payment from $100,000 to $200,000 for the families of fallen servicemembers and also includes a cost-of-living adjustment so future payments take inflation into account. In light of the deaths of seven servicemembers in the Middle East following Operation Epic Fury, the legislation also applies retroactively to the beginning of 2026 to ensure those families receive the enhanced benefit.
Rep. Van Epps, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan during the War on Terror, said, “While we hope for the safety of our servicemembers who willingly put themselves in harm’s way, we must ensure that when tragedy strikes, our nation stands fully behind the families left behind. Unfortunately, the bridge payment provided to Gold Star families has not been adjusted for inflation in twenty years, leaving grieving families with far less support than they need to rebuild their lives. To put that in perspective, $100 in 2006 has the buying power of roughly $160 today. As one Gold Star wife recently told me, ‘Your bills don’t get cut in half when you lose your spouse.’ Her words were a stark reminder of the difficult reality many Gold Star families face in the wake of unimaginable loss.”
“When a family receives a gold star on their service flag, it is both a reminder of the pride in your loved one’s sacrifice and a reminder of tremendous loss. There is no response great enough to express the gratitude of our nation for this sacrifice, but giving these families the financial help they need is a strong first step,” he concluded.
Congresswoman Kiggans said, “Our Gold Star families have felt the greatest form of pain and suffering in losing a loved one in service to our country. When a servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice, we have the solemn obligation to ensure their families are supported and able to move forward with stability and dignity. I’m proud to join Rep. Van Epps in this effort to double the military death gratuity and provide our fallen heroes’ families with the immediate financial support they deserve during such a difficult time.”
“Freedom is never free, and Gold Star families have already paid the highest price. Our commitment as a nation to them must be as steady as their sacrifice. That means ensuring the support they have been promised keeps pace with the cost of living,” said Rep. Tokuda. “I’m proud to join Rep. Van Epps in leading this bill to honor our obligation to the families who have given so much for our country.”
This legislation was endorsed by the Gold Star Mothers. American Gold Star Mothers President, Annette Kirk stated, “Congressman Van Epps' intent with this proposed legislation is to strengthen immediate support for survivors, and we support that as well. …[T]he standard gratuity of $100,000 has not been updated since FY2006 and the increase to $200,000 for fallen families of servicemembers is needed at this time. This bill, which allows for annual protection through an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to ensure the benefit never again loses real value over time, is key to Gold Star Families. Please accept this letter as our wholehearted support for the ‘Honoring Our Nation’s Obligation to Remember Gold Star Families Act.’”
The Gold Star Wives also endorsed this legislation.
This legislation was also endorsed by the Military Veterans Advocacy. Board Executive Director Commander John B. Wells U.S. Navy (retired) stated, “The United States must be gracious and compensate to the extent possible for the loss of a loved one in the military service. The death gratuity was fixed at $100,000 in 2006, that is no longer appropriate. While it is impossible to compensate someone for the death of a loved one, we must make every effort to assist our Gold Star families in taking care of their immediate needs.”
Original cosponsors: Reps. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), John Rose (TN-06), Tim Burchett (TN-02), William Timmons (SC-04), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Derrek Van Orden (WI-03), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Don Davis (NC-01), and John James (MI-10)
Read the exclusive from Emily Hallas in the Washington Examiner here
Read the legislation here.
Read the one-pager here.
Background:
This legislation
Doubles the military death gratuity from $100,000 to $200,000 for the families of fallen servicemembers.
Locks in annual inflation protection through an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), ensuring the benefit never again erodes in real value.
Applies retroactively to service members who lost their lives on or after January 1, 2026.