Washington – Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02), along with Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY-04), Ann McClane Kuster (D-NH-02), Zach Nunn (R-IA-03), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase access to job counseling services for Gold Star Spouses. The bill is companion legislation to S. 3746, the Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act, introduced in the Senate by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). 

Surviving spouses are not currently eligible for the career services offered by the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP), which gives every state funding to hire specialists as part of state workforce systems. DVOPs prioritize service to veterans with significant barriers to employment, including service-connected disabilities. There are more than 450,000 service-connected surviving spouses across the Country.

"All of our Gold Star surviving spouses deserve the same opportunities, and this is a simple fix to make job counseling services available to them," said Rep. Bacon."Many of these spouses are now supporting a family on their own or are starting a whole new life, after losing their partner, and we need to offer them every opportunity to succeed."

"Our nation's Gold Star families share in the ultimate sacrifice made by their loved ones in defending our nation, and they deserve not only the gratitude but also the full support of the United States,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I am proud to join this bipartisan legislation to expand the helping hand we give them, opening new doors for employment opportunities and success."

“Ensuring Gold Star surviving spouses have access to an array of job counseling services is an important step towards supporting these men and women who are often grappling with the realities of life after losing their partner in service to the United States,” said Rep. D’Esposito.  “It is incumbent upon the federal government to support the surviving spouses of fallen military servicemembers, and this is one palpable step Congress can take to make good on that national commitment.”

 “The families and spouses of our servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice deserve more than our thanks; they deserve support and action,” said Rep. Kuster. “We have a responsibility to ensure Gold Star spouses and their children are able to access the resources and opportunities they need to heal and succeed. I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation and will always fight for our servicemembers and their families.”

 “Gold Star surviving spouses have sacrificed so much for our nation, and we have a responsibility to support them and their families as they move forward,” said Rep. Panetta.  “This bipartisan, bicameral legislation makes a straightforward, meaningful change to the existing veterans' job counseling programs by making surviving spouses eligible for these same services.  This action has the potential to open new opportunities for more than 450,000 Gold Star surviving spouses throughout our country as we continue our work to serve all those who served our nation in and out of uniform.”

The legislation is endorsed by the American Legion, American Policy Ventures, Military Officers Association of America, National Partnership for Women and Families, and TAPS.