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Kennedy’s Legislation Would Expand Education Benefits for Families of Fallen Service Members

WASHINGTON, DC – During a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Legislative Hearing, Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) testified in support of his bill, the Gold Star Family Education Parity Act (H.R. 2720), legislation that would expand and modernize education benefits for the surviving dependents of service members who died in the line of duty. The bill would ensure that families, who have already endured unimaginable loss, receive the full Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits their loved ones earned, even if those benefits were not formally transferred prior to the service member’s death. 

To watch Congressman Kennedy’s full testimony visit here.

Under current law, survivors and dependents of deceased service members are only eligible for education assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, which provides approximately $1,536 per month, an amount that falls far short of covering the average cost of higher education.

“As they are already grieving the loss of a loved one, this financial gap leaves Gold Star families struggling to make ends meet, simply because their service member hadn’t completed a transfer form before their death,” said Congressman Kennedy. “It’s unjust, and certainly not the way we should treat the families of our fallen heroes.”

By contrast, the Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill offers significantly more robust benefits, including full tuition and fees at public institutions, a housing stipend, and support for books and supplies. However, under current law, dependents are only eligible for these benefits if the service member had formally transferred them before their death.

“The Gold Star Family Education Parity Act would correct this inequity,” said Kennedy. “We can’t let red tape stand in the way of what’s right. When a service member gives their life for this country, their family shouldn’t be left behind because of an administrative hurdle. This is our chance to honor their sacrifice with action, not just words.”

Kennedy, a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, spoke in support of his bill, which was considered during a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing, urging his colleagues to support the legislation as a matter of moral clarity and national duty.

This legislation is endorsed by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a leading nonprofit that supports grieving military families.

Ashlynne Haycock-Lohmann, Director of Government and Legislative Affairs at Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) said, “TAPS strongly supports H.R. 2720, the Gold Star Family Educational Parity Act, which would sunset Chapter 35 education benefits and move all qualified recipients to the Fry Scholarship. We thank Representative Kennedy for introducing  this life-changing legislation earlier this year.  Sunsetting Chapter 35 and expanding eligibility for the Fry Scholarship would acknowledge that surviving spouses and children, whose loved one died as a result of military service, ALL deserve equitable access to education benefits.”

For more information on H.R. 2720 visit here.