Bacon seeks lifelong benefits for Gold Star families

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced a bipartisan bill to further expand benefits for Gold Star family members who have lost loved ones killed in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. military.

“Our Gold Star and surviving family members deserve a commitment for life,” said Rep. Bacon, a veteran and member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.

Rep. Bacon on March 27 introduced the SFC Brian Woods Gold Star and Military Survivors Act,  H.R. 1911, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) and also cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA).

H.R. 1911 is named in honor of U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class William B. Woods Jr., who served with Rep. Waltz as an Army Green Beret and who died on Aug. 16, 2009 in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

H.R. 1911 would permit survivors with dependent children who have remarried to have ongoing access to on-base facilities, according to a summary of the bill provided by Rep. Bacon’s office.

Additionally, H.R. 1911 would direct the Pentagon to pay the transportation costs of remains for those killed in combat back to their hometown for any memorial services and to a national cemetery of the surviving family’s choice, according to the summary, which noted that just one trip is authorized under current law.

“This bill would ensure the Gold Star families of our fallen are cared for by giving their children and spouses the lifelong benefits they deserve and transportation costs for a burial and memorial worthy of their sacrifice,” said Rep. Waltz.

Rep. Bacon and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) last year saw a provision from the Gold Star Family Support and Installation Access Act of 2017, H.R. 3897/S. 2088, which they introduced, make it into the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019, H.R. 5515, which became law on Aug. 13, 2018 with the president’s signature.

Rep. Bacon said last week that the reintroduced H.R. 1911 “builds on the important progress we made last year and I am proud to cosponsor this important next step.”  

“The SFC Brian Woods Gold Star and Military Survivors Act keeps faith with the spouses and families of the fallen,” added the congressman. “Since becoming a member of Congress I have committed myself to this cause.”

H.R. 1911 has been referred to both the U.S. House Armed Services Committee and the U.S. Veterans’ Affairs Committee for consideration.