Cramer - Gold Star Fathers Act Passes House

Press Release

The U.S. House of Representatives today joined the U.S. Senate in passing S. 136, the Gold Star Fathers Act of 2015. The bill will now go to President Obama for his signature. Congressman Kevin Cramer is a co-sponsor of H.R. 1222, the companion bill in the U.S. House.

S. 136 grants fathers the same status as Gold Star mothers regarding eligibility for the civil service. Fathers will now be eligible for preferential eligibility for federal employment, in addition to mothers, of individuals who either lost their life under honorable conditions while serving in the armed forces; is a service-connected permanently and totally disabled veteran; if the spouse of that parent is totally and permanently disabled; or whose parent is unmarried or, if married, legally separated from his or her spouse or widowed.

"Parents bear an incredible burden when their son or daughter is seriously injured or give their life in defense of our country," said Cramer. "Granting fathers the same benefits and recognition provided to Gold Star Mothers under federal law is the least we can do as a nation."

The term Gold Star Family (or Parents) is a modern reference from service flags or banners flown by families during World War I. The flag included a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the armed forces of the United States, during any period of war or hostilities in which the armed forces of the United States were engaged. If that loved one died, the blue star was replaced by a gold star. This allowed members of the community to know the price that the family had paid in the cause of freedom. (Source: http://www.army.mil/goldstar)

The bill was introduced on January 8, 2015, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. On May 11, 2015, the bill was passed in the Senate by unanimous consent and was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

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