September 23 to 26, 2024: Survivors Meet Together on Capitol Hill to attend Gold Star Families Advocacy Week
Stars and Stripes: Lawmakers Urge VA to Reduce Backlog, Wait Times on Veterans’ Claims for Benefits
Salisbury Post: Salisbury’s Dole Calls Congress to Act on Veteran’s Behalf
American Legion: Supporting At-risk Troops and Grieving Military Families
The Spokesman-Review: VA Has Approved 1 Million Claims Under Landmark Toxic Exposure Law, but More Veterans and Survivors are Eligible
Blog Article: The Legacy Lives On
CNN Video: Gold Star Spouse & TAPS Policy Advisor Comments During the Dignified Transfer of Three U.S. Service Members Killed in a Drone Attack
Blog Article: Becoming Someone’s Why
Gray Television: ‘Love Lives On’: Proposed Legislation Aims to End Remarriage Penalty for Surviving Military Spouses

TAPS Advocates for All Military Survivors

The mission of TAPS is to offer comfort and support for surviving families of military loss regardless of the location or manner of their death. Part of that commitment includes advocating for improvements in programs and services provided by the Federal government through the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Education (DoED), Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as State and local governments. TAPS also works to advance policy and legislation to strengthen the families of America’s fallen military heroes.

Suicide Prevention Event on the Hill

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

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 23 to 26, 2024

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 TAPS Press Release on Gold Star Families Advocacy Week.

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

TAPS Survivors at Advocacy Week September 2023

Current Legislative Priorities

Pass Comprehensive Remarriage Bill

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.

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 for veterans and survivors.