Key portions of a bill introduced by U.S. Representative Matt Van Epps (R-TN-07) to increase financial support for the families of fallen service members have advanced as part of the House Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Van Epps announced Friday that core provisions of his Honoring Our Nation’s Obligation to Remember (HONOR) Gold Star Families Act were included in the annual defense authorization bill after clearing the House Armed Services Committee.
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, and now that bill is one step closer to becoming law.
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— Rep. Matt Van Epps (@repvanepps) June 6, 2026
The amendment to the NDAA, introduced by U.S. Representative Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) with support from U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), would raise the military death gratuity paid to surviving family members from $100,000 to $165,000 and establish an annual cost-of-living adjustment to help the benefit keep pace with inflation.
The FY27 NDAA will now go for a vote before the full U.S. House of Representatives before lawmakers leave Washington, D.C., for the July recess.
Van Epps hailed the inclusion of the measure in the NDAA as a significant step toward fulfilling the nation’s obligation to military families who have lost a loved one in service.
“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,” Van Epps said in a statement.
“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 added.
The Tennessee congressman noted that the death gratuity has not received a major update since 2006.
“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,” Van Epps said.
Van Epps originally introduced the HONOR Gold Star Families Act in March, delivering on a commitment he repeatedly made during his 2025 special election campaign for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. His original legislation proposed doubling the death gratuity from $100,000 to $200,000, adding annual cost-of-living adjustments, and applying the increase retroactively to January 1, 2026.
At the time, he described support for veterans, service members, and military families as one of his top legislative priorities.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Matt Van Epps” by Matt Van Epps.
