VA News: More Survivors of Veterans Eligible for PACT Act Benefits
Representative Phillips Press Release: Ahead of Memorial Day, Phillips Introduces Bill to Support Surviving Family of Deceased Military Servicemembers
Senator Blumenthal Press Release: Blumenthal & Warren Announce Legislation to Extend Crucial Health Benefits for Surviving Families of National Guard & Reservists
Washington Examiner Opinion: This Memorial Day, Let's Protect Benefits for Military Spouses
NPR Morning Edition: For Military Widows and Widowers, Getting Married Again Can Be Costly
Blog Article: Widow’s Tax Now Completely Eliminated
Blog Article: TAPS Celebrates the Passage of The Historic Pact Act
Press Release: TAPS Celebrates the Signing of the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act
Webinar: TAPS Policy & Legislative Advocacy Update

TAPS Advocates for All Military Survivors

TAPS exists to support all those grieving a death in the military and veteran community, regardless of where or how the death occurred. A critical piece of that commitment is advocating for improvements in programs and services provided by federal, state, and local governments. Our team is dedicated to empowering survivors to use their voices to spark change while working closely with government leaders and lawmakers to advance policy and legislation that impacts life after unspeakable tragedy.

Message your legislators with your own story and advocate our top legislative priorities: the Love Lives On Act and the Caring for Survivors Act.

Suicide Prevention Event on the Hill

For more information on TAPS Military Survivor Advocacy, contact us at policy@taps.org.

Legislative Priorities
what we are working on

Accomplishments
wins for survivors

Advocacy Week
Survivors on the Hill

Statements
for the record

Advocacy Week — September 2025 — Registration to open Memorial Day Weekend

Surviving families from all over the country come to Capitol Hill every September for TAPS Gold Star Families Advocacy Week. Surviving families walk the halls of Congress to help build support for TAPS legislative priorities. Survivors share their powerful stories and lead the way to change for the entire military survivor community.

You can take action from home by sending a message to your legislators with your own story and advocating for our top legislative priorities: the Love Lives On Act and the Caring for Survivors Act.

Follow TAPS on X (Twitter) during the event to keep current on what is happening!

Read the 2024 TAPS Press Release on Gold Star Families Advocacy Week.

See photos from the 2024 Congressional Reception and 2024 Meetings with Legislators on Capitol Hill

TAPS Survivors at Advocacy Week September 2023

Current Legislative Priorities

End the Remarriage Penalty

A top priority for TAPS is to secure the right for surviving spouses to remarry at any age and and not forfeit loss of financial benefits such as education, medical care, commissary and exchange benefits.

Widow Tax Legislation House get together

Improve Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

TAPS is working with Congress to pass the Caring for Survivors Act, to bring Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments in line with benefits for surviving spouses of federal employees.

Treat Suicide as a Presumptive Service-Connected Cause of Death for Veterans

TAPS has been on the front lines of suicide postvention efforts to support military families grieving deaths by suicide, and supports prioritizing mental health care for both veterans and survivors.

Provide Tricare and Champva Young Adult Coverage in Parity With The Affordable Care Act

TAPS supports the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act which would allow TRICARE young adults to remain on their parents' policy up to age 26.

Ensure Implementation of the PACT Act

TAPS is the leading voice for the families of those who died as a result of toxic exposure illnesses, is co-chair of the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Coalition, and is working to ensure proper implementation.

Create One Gi Bill for All Veterans, Survivors and Families

TAPS long-term goal is to bring all survivors into the Fry Scholarship and phase out the Vietnam Era Dependents Education Assistance (Chapter 35).

Ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs Collect Cause of Death Data

Collecting cause of death data will help provide necessary care and programs for surviving families, as well as research into suicide prevention, toxic exposures, and illnesses of many veterans.

Protect And Preserve Commissary and Exchange Benefits

TAPS urges Congress to continue to preserve Commissary benefits, maintain funding for Exchanges and allow surviving spouses who remarry under 55 to retain their benefits.

Survivor Advocacy Newsletter

Sign up to receive updates on how the the TAPS policy team is advocating for you on Capitol Hill on a variety of military and veteran survivor benefit issues from remarriage to toxic exposure. Learn how to advocate for yourself and your family.

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