A freshman Republican congressman is stepping up where Washington has failed for two decades, introducing legislation to finally give Gold Star families the support they deserve after losing loved ones in service to America.
Rep. Matt Van Epps (R-TN), fresh from his special election victory last December, made his first act in Congress count by introducing the bipartisan HONOR Gold Star Families Act on Thursday. The legislation would boost the "death gratuity" payment to military families for the first time in 20 years—a shameful neglect that spans multiple administrations.
While career politicians in Washington have been busy with their political games and foreign aid packages, our Gold Star families have been left behind with benefits that haven't kept pace with inflation or the true cost of their sacrifice. Van Epps is changing that.
"Our Gold Star families have sacrificed everything for this nation, and it's past time we honor that sacrifice appropriately," Van Epps said, framing the legislation as a moral imperative rather than political positioning.
America First Means Military Families First
The timing couldn't be more perfect. With President Trump back in the White House and Republicans controlling Congress, we finally have leadership that puts American military families ahead of global bureaucrats and foreign interests. This is exactly the kind of America First policy that resonates with patriots across the country.
Van Epps represents the new generation of conservative fighters who aren't coming to Washington to play nice with the establishment. They're coming to deliver real results for the Americans who matter most—our military families who've paid the ultimate price.
The fact that this benefit hasn't been updated in two decades is a disgrace that reflects Washington's backwards priorities. How many billions have we sent overseas while Gold Star families struggled with outdated death benefits? How many pet projects got funded while military families were forgotten?
This is what happens when we elect fighters instead of swamp creatures. Van Epps could have chosen any issue for his first bill, but he chose to honor our fallen heroes' families. That tells you everything about his character and priorities.
Will Democrats support our Gold Star families, or will they find excuses to oppose even this basic act of decency?