Honor Gold Star Families Act

This legislation, known as the Honor Gold Star Families Act , significantly amends title 10 of the United States Code to enhance financial support for families of service members who die while on active duty. It doubles the current death gratuity payment from $100,000 to $200,000 , providing a more substantial immediate benefit to grieving families. The increased gratuity is made retroactive , applying to all deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026, ensuring that recently bereaved families also benefit. Furthermore, the bill introduces an essential provision for an annual cost-of-living adjustment , tied to the Consumer Price Index, which will begin on January 1, 2027, and be rounded to the nearest $100. This mechanism aims to preserve the purchasing power of the death gratuity over time, with the Secretary of Defense responsible for publishing the adjusted amount annually.