Tennessee U.S. Representative Matt Van Epps (R-TN-07) filed legislation to increase financial support for the families of fallen service members, fulfilling a priority he emphasized during his congressional campaign.
Last week, Van Epps introduced the Honoring Our Nation’s Obligation to Remember (HONOR) Gold Star Families Act, a bill that would double the military death gratuity from $100,000 to $200,000 and add annual cost-of-living adjustments.
During a Wednesday appearance on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Van Epps described the bill as “critical” for the families of fallen service members.
“It’s very important. It increases the death gratuity that gets paid to a service member’s family after they’ve made the ultimate sacrifice from the current amount of $100,000 to 200,000 and then provides a cost-of-living adjustment each year,” Van Epps said.
The benefit has not been increased since 2006, he noted.
“This was last increased in 2006, but has not been increased since then. So if it had kept pace with inflation, it should be $160,000 today. So we’re proposing to increase it to 200,000 and then provide that cost-of-living adjustment so it keeps pace with inflation,” he said.
The bill includes a provision to apply the increase retroactively to January 1, 2026.
“One of the other really critical provisions in this is that we propose to make it retroactive to January 1st of this year, so that we cover the families who are going through the hardest time in their lives right now,” Van Epps explained.
He said the “common sense,” bipartisan bill now has 16 cosponsors.
Before entering Congress, Van Epps emphasized support for veterans and military families as a central campaign priority, drawing on his background as a U.S. Army veteran and his service in Tennessee state government under Governor Bill Lee.
During his campaign, he said he planned to prioritize legislation aimed at helping veterans transition to civilian life, as well as other proposals including tax incentives and expanded support for military families.
“I think working to help veterans…is the right thing to do, and will be one of my initial efforts,” he said at the time.
Van Epps, who took office in December 2025, described the pace of work in Congress as demanding.
“These days are 12-hour-plus days,” he said, detailing how his schedule includes constituent meetings and legislative work, often beginning early in the morning.
He is currently staying in temporary housing near Capitol Hill while searching for a permanent residence.
“Right now I’m typically at a hotel in Navy Yard that’s in close proximity to the Capitol each week… and we’ll hopefully have a studio apartment at some point that’s within walking distance,” Van Epps said.
The freshman congressman also expressed gratitude for his family’s support as he adjusts to life in Congress, saying, “I’m so grateful to my wife and family… she’s just an incredible mom… and the absolute best moment when I come home is when my daughter comes running up to me and saying, ‘Dad.’”
Outside of his legislative duties, Van Epps said that he plans to try out for the Republican congressional baseball team, which is scheduled to play in the Congressional Baseball Game on June 10.
“I’m trying to play on the congressional baseball team… I’m a third baseman… and I’m eager to swing a bat again and get on the field,” he said.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
