Honor Gold Star Families Act

The Honor Gold Star Families Act increases the death gratuity payment for military families from $100,000 to $200,000, effective for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026. This change also establishes a permanent annual cost-of-living adjustment mechanism, requiring the payment amount to be updated each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The Secretary of Defense will be responsible for publishing these updated figures annually in the Federal Register. The legislation directly affects families of service members who have died while on active duty.