News

Hearing Held 25 March 2025

House Veterans Affairs Announcement: 

ttps://veterans.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=6670

On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 10:15 AM ET, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs will hold a legislative hearing titled: “Legislative Hearing on: Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 530, ACES Act; H.R. 647, Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025; H.R. 1039, Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act; H.R. 1228, Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act; H.R. 1286, Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act; H.R. 1344, Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act; H.R. 2138, Veterans’ Compensation Cost-ofLiving Adjustment Act of 2025; H.R. 2137, Review Every Veterans Claim Act of 2025; Discussion Draft, Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025; H.R. 2201, Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act; Discussion Draft, Veterans Claims Education Act; Discussion Draft, Survivors Benefits Delivery Improvement Act of 2025; and Discussion Draft, Board of Veterans Appeals’ Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act.” The live stream can be found below.

https://www.youtube.com/live/PgF9-Sq9ub4?si=LNkc_dstD954T5If

H.R. 680, the Caring for Survivors Act of 2025, would increase financial support for eligible survivors of disabled veterans by increasing the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) amount from 41% to 55% of the veteran’s monthly compensation rate. In addition, H.R. 680 would reduce the existing 10-year eligibility requirement for DIC benefits to five years.  The Caring for Survivors Act will make it easier for survivors of veterans rated totally disabled at the time of death to qualify for compensation and ensure that benefits are in line with compensation rates provided to survivors of federal civil-service retirees.  DAV supports H.R. 680, in accordance with DAV Resolution No. 25, which calls for improving and reforming DIC benefits and No.142, which calls for the reduction of the 10-year eligibility rule for DIC.  We ask all DAV members and supporters to contact their representatives and urge them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 680, the Caring for Survivors Act of 2025. As always, we appreciate your support for DAV’s legislative priorities and for participating in DAV CAN.  ****** Gold Star Spouses of America is greatful and thankful to have the public support of the DAV and DAV Auxillary for H.R. 680 Click to Participate in the DAV Campaign and support Gold Star Spouses efforts to get equity in Federal Survivor Benefits.  https://dav.quorum.us/campaign/113030/

Gold Star Spouses of America, Releases Legislative Priorities for the 119th Congress -Fact Sheets now Available for member download. 

1. Improve to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) H.R. 680 and S.611

2. Support for the “Love Lives On Act” H.R. 1004

3.  Restore the Original Role of the Office of Survivors Assistance

4. Expansion of TRICARE and CHAMPVA Young Adult Program Coverage

5. HEART Act Amendment- Extending Transfer Time for Transfer of Life Insurance Benefits to Roth IRA.

6. Expansion of the Gold Star Families Pass for the National Parks

Call to Action:
Gold Star Spouses of America, Inc. urges members of the 119th Congress to prioritize these legislative initiatives. Together, we can honor the sacrifices of military surviving spouses and their families by providing the necessary support and recognition they deserve.

Members- Please contact your Representatives and ask them to Cosponsor.

We are pleased to share Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-5) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) reintroduced the bipartisan H.R. 680, Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 to Improve Dependent Indemnity Compensation (DIC)!

""Gold Star Spouses of America, Inc. (GSSA) is proud to support the Caring for Survivors Act. For far too long, survivors of military service members have faced financial hardships due to outdated benefit calculations that have not kept pace with their needs. This bill ensures that surviving spouses and family members receive benefits that more adequately reflect their sacrifice and loss through the improvement of the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program,” said Tamra Sipes, National President, Gold Star Spouses of America."

https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7EE49BB1-9833-4FA8-B2AA-06532D3E6F9F

    

Gold Star Spouses of America was honored to attend the White House Breakfast and present a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Members include Sri Benson, Kimberly Hughes, David Escobar, Gabby Kubinyi, Tamra Sipes, Suzanna Story.

Pictured at the White House, Secretary of the Navy, Bonnie Carroll, President of TAPS, Gary Ginsburg, National Commander of the Jewish War Veterans and Jack McManus President, Tom Burke, Vice President of Vietnam Veterans of America. 

    

     

Tamra Sipes with Pearl Harbor and Pacific War Survivor. On Stage   remaining World War II U.S. Liberators and the remaining two   Holocaust   survivors. Nationally broadcast on TV.   

Tamra Sipes was invited to attend the American Veterans Center, American Valor Gala on Nov. 9, honoring our World War II Soldiers. I had the pleasure of sitting with three World War II Veterans. One was the last Tuskegee airmen, another a Liberator of the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor and Pacific War Veteran - 104 year old! 

 Kimberly Hazelgrove, Vice President, pictured with Dr.     Mark Harris, President and CEO of Woody Williams       Foundation. at the 2nd Annual Foundation’s Legacy of   Service Gala on Nov 2 at Louisville Slugger Field in   Louisville, KY.  This special event celebrates the life and   mission of Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody”   Williams, who devoted his life to service and ensures his   legacy of recognizing and supporting Gold Star Families   lives on.

Volunteering at a VA Hospital or other National VA community or civic event?

Please make sure to identify yourself as a member of Gold Star Spouses of America. Gold Star Spouses of America is now recognized nationally in the Center for Development and Civic Engagement Portal (CDCEP). This is an application that is used by the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE), one of the largest volunteer programs in the Federal Government, to track volunteer hours and monitor membership status of the VAVS National Advisory Committee member organizations.

CDCEP also tracks donations made to VA facilities nationwide. Volunteers work under Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the National Cemetery Association (NCA) and participate in several events such as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, National Veterans Golden Age Games, National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, and National Veterans Winter and Summer Sports Clinics. CDCEP is critical to VA in that it is used to evaluate the impact of volunteers and donations on VA’s service to Veterans and provides documentation for coverage of volunteers under VA’s insurance. CDCE is responsible for the strategic utilization of volunteers, donations, and community partners for the purpose of supplementing and augmenting care and services for Veterans within VHA and furthering the outreach efforts to Veterans, families and caregivers across the Department.

Kimberly Hazelgrove, National Vice President, presented the first wreath for GSSA at the dedication ceremony of the Lorain County (OH) Gold Star Families Memorial Monument held on September 29, 2024, in front of a crowd of attendees including Gold Star families, elected officials and community members. As the Co-Chair of the memorial project, Kimberly joined a program of speakers including Congressman Bob Latta, Ann Duff, Assistant Director of the Office of Survivor Assistance and Dr. Mark Harris, President, Woody Williams Foundation to honor and recognize all military surviving families and relatives on the national day of remembrance. TAPS, Navy Gold Star Families, Army Survivor Outreach Services, local veteran organizations and Lorain County Veterans Service Office all helped connect local families to the event, providing them awareness and access to additional resources closer to home.

Julie Hammond, National Treasurer attended the Jacksonville, Florida Gold Star Mother and Family Brunch at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Area.  This was the fourth annual event put on by the First Coast Blue Star Mothers, the American Legion and Survivor Outreach Services.  See the link at News 4 Jacksonville.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2024/09/22/gold-star-families-gather-in-jacksonville-to-remember-the-fallen-and-honor-their-survivors/