FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 22, 2014

 

KEATING MEMORIAL DAY BILL AIDS GOLD STAR FAMILIES

 

Washington, DC– In advance of Memorial Day, Rep. Bill Keating has authored a bill that will provide Gold Star parents with access to retail and commissary benefits currently only available to spouses and children.  The Gold Star Families Equality Act, which was endorsed by AMVETS, was introduced this week by Rep. Keating.

This legislation is the product of multiple conversations between Rep. Keating and two local families whose children made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country.  Despite this sacrifice, these Gold Star parents are denied commissary and retail benefits afforded to other next of kin.

“As the grandson of a Gold Star mother, I understand the importance that title carries,” said Rep. Keating.  “Yet, parents whose children have made the ultimate sacrifice do not receive the same privileges as Gold Star spouses and children.  With the age of our fallen service men and women tragically getting younger and younger, often the survivors are their parents.  Granting Gold Star parents access to retail and commissary benefits will serve as a symbol of our Nation’s commitment to honoring all those who have selflessly devoted themselves to protecting our freedom.  Although we will never be able to diminish the sense of sorrow Gold Star parents must feel, it is my hope that this measure of gratitude will provide them with a small level of comfort this Memorial Day weekend.”

Specifically, the Gold Star Families Equality Act would provide equal recognition and benefits for the surviving parents of service men and women from all branches of the Armed Forces who have died while serving on active or reserve duty.  The benefits include the availability to shop at the same commissary, exchange, and retail stores currently being used by members of the Armed Forces.

In order to streamline the process of extending Gold Star benefits, the legislation provides all survivors – including parents, spouses, and children – with Gold Star Installation Access Cards, a new form of identification.

Through Rep Keating’s discussions with Gold Star parents, it came to light that while certain admirable companies and businesses give discounts to Gold Star families, these parents, spouses, and children have had difficulties and feel uncomfortable having to explain their Gold Star status to access these discounts. At times, this simple act conjures painful memories.  The Gold Star Installation Access Cards would provide a solution to this situation.

“It is my hope that the Gold Star Installation Access Cards that my legislation creates will provide survivors with the respect and recognition they deserve without any explanation needed,” said Rep. Keating.

These cards will be modeled after a currently existing Army program, but will extend across all branches of the Armed Forces and will be statutorily mandated.  The Gold Star Installation Access Cards also provide entry to military installations for events and memorials.

It is anticipated that Rep. Keating’s legislation, which does not add to the deficit, will help upward of 57,000 military families.

Rep. Keating has long been an advocate for Gold Star families.  One of his first acts was to create a Gold Star Families Guide with useful information on benefits afforded to Gold Star Families living in the Commonwealth.