Representative Don Bacon (R-NE2) introduced a bill entitled H.R. 3897, the Gold Star Family Support and Installation Access Act of 2017.

It was co-sponsored by four Democrats and four Republicans.

It seeks to change the way Gold Star Families are treated under the law. Currently, you get a lapel pin.

Should the bill pass, it would extend access to bases and installations for life, allow family members to continue to attend unit functions or receive grief counselling, access to base facilities, &c.

First, it requires Gold Star spouses and children to have lifetime access to installations and gives the Secretary of Defense the ability to authorize similar access to next of kin. The bill also provides installation access reciprocity between the military services.

Second, H.R. 3897 allows remarried Gold Star spouses to keep their benefits as long as dependent children remain at home.

The eight bipartisan cosponsors of H.R. 3897 are all veterans: Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ), Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD), and Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK).

Full press release: bacon.house.gov (not to be confused with pork barrel spending, a different sort of bacon /s).