HONOR Gold Star Families Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7932

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-12: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Last Updated

2026-06-19T08:06:09Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This legislation aims to double the one-time payment (known as the death gratuity) provided to families of deceased members of the U.S. Armed Forces and to introduce yearly adjustments based on inflation to ensure the payment keeps pace with rising living costs. It honors the sacrifices of military families, particularly "Gold Star Families" (those who have lost a service member).

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The bill is titled the "Honoring Our Nation's Obligation to Remember Gold Star Families Act" or the "HONOR Gold Star Families Act."
• Increase in Death Gratuity: The payment rises from $100,000 to $200,000 for eligible families.
• Applicability of Increase: The higher amount applies to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026.
• Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): Starting January 1, 2027, the gratuity amount will be adjusted each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (a measure of inflation tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Adjustments will be rounded to the nearest $100.
• Publication Requirement: The Secretary of Defense must publish the updated gratuity amount annually in the Federal Register (an official government journal).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 1478(a) of Title 10 of the U.S. Code (which governs military benefits) by replacing the fixed $100,000 gratuity with $200,000.
• Adds a new subsection (c) to Section 1478, introducing the first-ever annual inflation adjustment to the death gratuity, ensuring it does not lose value over time due to rising prices.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Provides greater financial support to surviving family members of deceased service members, helping cover immediate costs like funeral expenses or lost income. The inflation adjustment will make the benefit more sustainable long-term for Gold Star Families.
• On Government Agencies: The Department of Defense will need to calculate and publish annual adjustments, potentially increasing administrative workload and federal spending on military benefits (estimated to rise with the doubled base amount and future COLAs).
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic military compensation measure.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Gold Star Families: Primary beneficiaries, receiving enhanced financial assistance.
• U.S. Armed Forces Members and Their Families: Indirectly benefits active-duty personnel by strengthening support systems.
• Department of Defense: Responsible for implementing and funding the changes.
• Congress and Taxpayers: Involved in oversight and funding through federal budgets.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens existing military benefit laws without altering eligibility criteria, ensuring compliance with federal statutes on veteran and survivor benefits. The use of the Consumer Price Index for adjustments is a standard, non-controversial method seen in other federal programs like Social Security.
• Constitutional: No apparent challenges; it aligns with Congress's authority under Article I, Section 8 to "raise and support Armies" and provide for military welfare.
• Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) for military families, potentially influencing future defense budgets and veteran policy debates. It addresses long-standing calls to update outdated benefit amounts amid inflation, but could spark discussions on fiscal priorities given increased costs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7]

Cosponsors (22)

Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. James, John [R-MI-10], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7], Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-12: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
• 2026-03-12: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Honoring Our Nation’s Obligation to Remember Gold Star Families Act — issued 2026-03-12 — PDF (3 pages)