This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to plan and implement certain technological improvements to its systems, particularly in relation to the processing of claims and benefits.

First, the bill requires the VA to submit to Congress its plan to make available an automation tool for processing claims. Such tool must automate the retrieval of the records of the veteran, compile evidence relevant to the determination of the claim, provide automated decision support relevant to the determination, automate information sharing between federal agencies, and assist in generating correspondence regarding the claim.

Within one year of submitting this plan, the VA must ensure that each VA program office responsible for processing claims for pension or survivor benefits has an automation tool that at least assists in generating correspondence regarding the claim.

The VA must also implement policies, processes, and technological capabilities to ensure that a claims processor is made aware of and assigned to address situations when (1) there is an increase in the amount of dependency compensation paid to a beneficiary for a child, and (2) any educational assistance is paid to the child of a veteran.

Finally, the VA must submit a plan to Congress to ensure documents in the Veterans Benefits Management System are correctly labeled when uploaded.

U.S. House Approves Bill to Replace Fallen Armed Service Personnel’s Grave Markers with Those Reflecting Warriors’ Actual Religions

September 15, 2025 / Leave a Comment

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz(D-Florida) and Max Miller’s (R-Ohio) bipartisan Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday by voice vote. If signed into law, it would help ensure hundreds of fallen American-Jewish servicemembers are buried under military grave markers that represent their true religion and heritage.

The bill now moves to the Senate to be considered. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) and Jerry Moran(R-Kansas) lead the companion bill in the Senate.

“This bill is an important step to allow for the research necessary to correct these errors and ensure there are resources for that work,” said Wasserman Schultz.  “This will make it possible for these brave Jewish servicemembers’ descendants to know that their loved one’s military service, life and religious heritage are properly honored.”

Due to the sheer scale of burials that occurred during World War I and II, hundreds of American-Jewish servicemembers killed in action were improperly buried under Latin Cross grave markers, rather than Stars of David. It is estimated that as many as 900 remain that way today.

To replace a grave marker at American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) cemeteries, the next of kin must present the ABMC with evidence of the decedent’s religious heritage and submit a grave marker change request. However, without resources, this process can be difficult for families. This legislation would create the “Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program,” to award contracts to nonprofits to identify and research American-Jewish servicemembers buried in ABMC cemeteries under grave markers that do not represent the proper religion and heritage. It authorizes $500,000 per year for five years for the program.

This bill is supported by Jewish Federations of North America, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Gold Star Spouses of America, Jewish War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Aleph Institute, the Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA), Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Read the full bill here.

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Preceding provided by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Link to Original Article

We are honored to announce Katie Fellure (Vasquez) has joined our Board of Directors.

Katie’s husband, LTC Michael Fellure, died on active duty in 2019 at age 47 from esophageal cancer linked to burn-pit exposure during his service in Iraq. We honor his life, service, and sacrifice, and the strength Katie carries forward in his memory.

Through her work, Katie has become a tireless advocate, raising awareness and fighting for benefits for families like hers. She brings both lived experience and a powerful voice to our mission, and we are grateful for her leadership and commitment to ensuring surviving families are supported and heard.

Please join us in welcoming Katie to the Gold Star Spouses of America Inc. team.

Are you a Service-Connected Surviving Military Spouse who had a Burial Transportation Benefit Claim processed at the Veterans Administration between Jan 2023 and Mar 2024? Please reach out to us at info@goldstarspouses.org.

Recent report from VA OIG estimated that 83 percent of Veteran Death benefit claims from this time period contained an error, of which 2,000 claims (16 percent) resulted in about $1.9 million in underpayments. You may have been underpaid! Please contact us if you believe you may be in this group.

Please read the following VA report for more information:

The Military Coalition released this statement,

" We are proud to welcome Gold Star Spouses of America, Inc. as a Supporting Member of The Military Coalition (TMC).

The Gold Star Spouses of America's mission is rooted in advocacy, connection, education and remembrance, ensuring the legacy of our fallen heroes live on through meaningful action.

We look forward to working together with them to advance advocacy efforts that strengthen support for service members, veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors."

The Military Coalition (TMC) is comprised of 35 Veteran and Military Service Organizations. Their philosophy is that, by working together on issues of mutual agreement, the participating organizations can harness grassroots support of more than 5.5 million members, plus their families and accomplish far more, than by working on these initiatives separately.

When one or more of the coalition organizations is invited to testify before congress, they frequently coordinate the testimony with the other coalition associations and present it on behalf of the entire coalition. This lends greater weight and unanimity to the testimony than if it were presented by any individual association.

Gold Star Spouses Of America National Vice President, Kimberly Hazelgrove, attends the VFW National Convention Memorial Services. Kimberly is a veteran in her own right and an active member of the VFW

Gold Star Spouses of America Vice President, Kimberly Hazelgrove, delivers a moving speech as Guest Speaker at the 2025 VFW National Convention Memorial Service. An excerpt, "While loss can break you, Remembrance can help build you back up". Remembrance is at the heart of Gold Star Spouses of America's mission. Wonderful Speech and Great Job Kimberly!

“Gold Star Spouses of America strongly supports the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act to end the unjust TRICARE premium requirement for military families with young adult children,” said Gold Star Spouses of America National President Tamra Sipes. “Our military kids already shoulder the weight of sacrifice, and they should never pay extra for the same health care access their civilian peers receive without added cost. This bipartisan fix is long overdue.”

https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pat-ryan-re-introduces-bipartisan-health-care-fairness-military 

"With her head held high, she continues this mission of honoring fallen service members by ensuring the families left behind are never forgotten. “Having faith through tragedy empowers us to serve one another humbly in love,” Briley said. “Supporting and serving others, especially families of the fallen, has given me a purpose. For more than 20 years, I have been very active on a local, state and national level advocating for legislative issues that pertain to survivor benefits. Our loved ones are a part of us. They shape us. We talk about them because we love them still and always will.”

Read More:  https://501lifemag.com/person-of-the-month-sharri-lanee-briley/

Radio Interview

Tamra Sipes, National President of Gold Star Spouses Of America, discusses how two pieces of federal legislation are important for surviving spouses of military members. Click here to read the Love Lives On Act and Click here to read the Caring For Survivors Act.