June 17, 2026
Mr. Sheehy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To amend title 10, United States Code, to increase, and provide a cost-of-living adjustment with respect to, the death gratuity for families of deceased members of the Armed Forces.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Honor Gold Star Families Act
.
Sec. 2. Increase in and cost-of-living adjustment of death gratuity
(a) Increase in death gratuity
(1) Increase
Section 1478(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking $100,000
and inserting $200,000
.
(2) Retroactive applicability
The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026.
(b) Cost-of-Living adjustment of death gratuity
Section 1478 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection:
(c) Annual adjustment to death gratuity
(1)
On January 1, 2027, and January 1 of each year thereafter, the amount of the death gratuity payable under subsection (a) shall be increased by the percentage (if any) by which the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the preceding calendar year exceeds such Consumer Price Index for the calendar year before such preceding calendar year, rounded to the nearest $100.
(2)
The Secretary of Defense shall annually publish the amount of the death gratuity payable under subsection (a), as adjusted by paragraph (1), in the Federal Register.