This week, U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., introduced a proposal to “reduce the financial burden on families who have tragically lost a loved one in the service of our country.”
Waltz introduced the “Abbey Gate Gold Star Families Dignified Transport Act” with U.S. Reps. Cory Mills, R-Fla., and Seth Moulton, D-Mass, as co-sponsors.
“The legislation builds upon Reps. Waltz’s and Moulton’s previous efforts to ensure the Pentagon covers the costs to transport a servicemembers remains to a second location, so long as the second location is a National cemetery. Prior to 2020, the Pentagon would only pay to transport the remains to one location. If a grieving family, friends, and community wished to have a service to honor the fallen in their hometown, the family would have to pay the transport costs for their final rest at Arlington Cemetery,” Waltz’s office noted. “The Final FY2020 Authorization included the Waltz-Moulton provision, however the law states that families would be assisted via reimbursement only. Unfortunately, due to the transportation costs, some families have difficulty covering these initial expenses. The Abbey Gate Gold Star Families Dignified Transport Act clarifies congressional intent by having the department cover the costs at the outset, reducing the stress on families during an already difficult time.”
Waltz and the co-sponsors offered their reasons for championing the proposal.
“As a combat veteran, I think we can agree that the Gold Star families of our fallen must be cared for by providing them the lifelong benefits worthy of their sacrifice upon the altar of freedom,” said Waltz. “The intent of this benefit is to provide grieving families, friends, and communities the dignity to honor their fallen heroes with a memorial service in their hometowns, before going to their final place of rest at a national cemetery. I am proud to introduce this legislation to help alleviate this financial burden while honoring the families of the 13 U.S. service men and women who lost their lives at Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan. May we never forget their service and sacrifice.”
“Every U.S. servicemember signs a blank check, payable with their lives. When tragedy strikes and a servicemember does not return home, no grieving family should ever be saddled with a bill for a hometown memorial service, even if it will be later reimbursed,” said Moulton. “The very least we can do for new members of the Gold Star community is to remove the initial stress of having to cover up-front costs. At an extremely difficult time, families deserve to focus only on saying goodbye.”
“No fallen servicemember’s family should ever have to question whether transportation will be covered, or if they will have to pay and be reimbursed at a later date after losing a loved one in service to their country,” said Mills. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to reduce the unnecessary financial stress on our courageous Gold Star families to ensure they can focus on remembering their loved ones during their time of loss.”
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
