CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Rep. Matt Van Epps, serving his first year as congressman for District 7, has introduced his first piece of legislation, and it’s one close to the heart of the former Fort Campbell soldier: It doubles the military death benefit for surviving family members.
The Honoring Our Nation’s Obligation to Remember (HONOR) Gold Star Families Act increases the “death gratuity” or bridge payment for the families of fallen servicemembers from $100,000 to $200,000.
“My heart and thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those serving and sacrificing now,” Van Epps said in a speech Tuesday during the Clarksville Industrial Association meeting at the Dock 17 restaurant in Clarksville. “It is never lost on us how important that is. This is the right thing to do.”
The legislation also addresses a long-term issue with the benefit: It includes a cost of living adjustment so that future payments take inflation into account.
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Van Epps, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan during the War on Terror, said in prepared comments, “Unfortunately, the bridge payment provided to Gold Star families has not been adjusted for inflation in 20 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.”
In light of the deaths of seven servicemembers recently in the Middle East following US military strikes on Iran, the legislation also applies retroactively to the beginning of 2026 to ensure those families receive the enhanced benefit.
“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,” Van Epps said. “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.”
The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Van Epps, R-Tennessee, a 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment veteran; Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, a US Navy veteran; and Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii. Co-sponsoring are Reps. John Rose, R-Tennessee; Tim Burchett, R-Tennessee; William Timmons, R-South Carolina; Pat Harrigan, R-North Carolina; Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisconsin; Jake Ellzey, R-Texas; Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia; Don Davis, D-North Carolina; and John James, R-Michigan.
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