Rep. Matt Van Epps, R-Tenn., told Newsmax on Thursday that Gold Star families should receive a larger immediate death benefit when a service member is killed, calling a proposed increase in the military death gratuity "the right thing to do" as he rolled out what he described as his first bill since taking office.
In an interview with "National Report," Van Epps said his Honor Gold Star Families Act would double the tax-free payment to the families of fallen service members and add a cost-of-living adjustment so the benefit does not lose value over time.
"The Honor Gold Star Families Act [would] increase the death gratuity from $100,000 to $200,000" as well as add "a cost-of-living adjustment — it should be at about $160,000 right now," Van Epps said.
He said the gratuity is meant to help families cover urgent expenses in the aftermath of a death in uniform.
"This is a benefit that gets paid immediately to families after tragedy strikes and a service member is killed," Van Epps said. "It goes to pay those bills immediately."
"It's tax-free. And we want to increase that to $200,000, provide a cost-of-living adjustment so that it never erodes with inflation."
The current military death gratuity is a $100,000 tax-free payment for eligible survivors of service members who die while on active duty or in certain reserve statuses, according to the Defense Department.
Van Epps, a freshman House Republican from Tennessee's 7th District and a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, framed the legislation as both personal and overdue.
"Again, it's critical as a veteran — having served in Iraq and Afghanistan, having seen and been with families and friends who have paid the ultimate sacrifice — this is the right thing to do," he said.
He also said the proposal already has bipartisan backing.
"We have broad bipartisan support for this, a number of original co-sponsors to include [Rep.] Tim Burchett[, R-Tenn.,] and [Rep.] John Rose[, R-Tenn.,] of Tennessee and the Tennessee delegation," Van Epps said.
"This is the right thing to do. We are excited that this will move forward for Gold Star families."
The interview came as Van Epps also pressed the Senate to end the partial Department of Homeland Security funding lapse, arguing the shutdown was affecting frontline agencies and Coast Guard families, but his comments on Gold Star families centered on a separate push to expand survivor benefits.
The death gratuity was raised to $100,000 during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and military survivor assistance officials say it is designed to provide immediate financial help before longer-term benefits begin.
Van Epps said his bill would also apply retroactively to the beginning of 2026, though full legislative text and bill status were not immediately available on public congressional databases Thursday.
The proposal lands as lawmakers in both parties continue to spotlight military family support, particularly for survivors navigating the first days after a service member's death.
For Van Epps, the message was straightforward.
"After tragedy strikes" and a family is left to handle the sudden loss, bills, and funeral planning, he said that Washington should make sure such funding "never erodes with inflation."
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Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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