HONOR Gold Star Families Act

This legislative proposal seeks to significantly enhance the financial support provided to families of service members who die while on active duty. Its primary objective is to increase the death gratuity and ensure its value is maintained over time through regular adjustments. Specifically, the bill mandates an increase in the death gratuity from $100,000 to $200,000 , applicable to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026. Furthermore, it introduces an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the gratuity, based on the Consumer Price Index, beginning January 1, 2027. The Secretary of Defense would be responsible for annually publishing the adjusted gratuity amount in the Federal Register, ensuring the benefit keeps pace with economic changes.