#aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #chig ,,an ,,act ,to amend title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide for the issuance of the ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card to the surviving spouse1 dependent children1 and other next of kin of a member of the ,armed ,forces who dies while serving on certain active or reserve duty1 to ensure that a remarried surviving spouse with dependent children of the deceased member remains eligible for installation benefits to which the surviving spouse was previously eligible1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,gold ,star ,family ,support and ,installation ,access ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,since ,world ,war ,i1 the gold star symbol has been used by ,american families to honor members of the ,armed ,forces who have given their lives in service to the ,nation4 7#b7 ,surviving families of deceased members of the ,armed ,forces confront many challenges1 often made worse by policies that fail to compassionately honor the memory of their loved one's service and sacrifice to the ,nation4 7#c7 ,there is an obligation to ensure that the ,gold ,star family connections to the military community remain an eternal bond providing strength and comfort to surviving family members and to those still serving4 7#d7 ,individual military services have recognized the need to provide installation access to ,gold ,star families to attend memorial events1 visit gravesites1 and access other benefits for which family members are eligible and entitled4 7#e7 ,surviving families of deceased members of the ,armed ,forces relocate to other parts of the country1 often far away from the service installation where their loved one last served4 7#f7 ,current ,department of ,defense policy rescinds on-base benefits to surviving spouses of deceased service members who remarry1 even when dependent children under the guardianship of the surviving spouse remain eligible for benefits1 effectively rendering these benefits inaccessible by the children of the deceased member4 #c4 ,issuance of ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,cards 7a7 ,issuance and conditions on use 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #eg of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #aabf the following new section3 #aabf;a4 ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card3 issuance and protections 7a7 ,issuance to ,gold ,star surviving spouse and dependent children of deceased member required ,the ,secretary concerned shall provide for the issuance of a standardized ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card to the widow and dependent children of a deceased member of the armed forces described in section #aabf7;a7 of this title to facilitate their ability to gain unescorted access to military installations for the purpose of attending memorial events1 visiting gravesites1 and obtaining the on-installation services and benefits to which they are entitled or eligible4 7b7 ,issuance to other next of kin authorized ,at the discretion of the ,secretary concerned1 the ,secretary concerned may provide the ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card to the parents and other next of kin of a deceased member of the armed forces described in section #aabf7;a7 of this title4 7c7 ,service-,wide acceptance of access card ,the ,secretaries concerned shall work together to ensure that a ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card issued by one armed force is accepted for access to military installations under the jurisdiction of another armed force4 7d7 ,protection of installation security ,in developing1 issuing1 and accepting the ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card1 the ,secretary concerned may take such measures as the ,secretary concerned considers necessary-- 7#a7 to prevent fraud in the procurement or use of the ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card2 7#b7 to limit installation access to those areas of the installation that provide the services and benefits for which the recipient of the ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card is entitled or eligible2 and 7#c7 to ensure that the availability and use of the ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card does not adversely affect military installation security4 7e7 ,termination ,the ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card for the widow and dependent children of a deceased member of the armed forces shall remain valid for the life of the widow or child1 regardless of subsequent marital status of the widow1 subject to periodic renewal as determined by the ,secretary concerned to ensure military installation security4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #eg of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #aabf the following new item3 #aabf;a4 ,gold ,star ,installation ,access ,card3 issuance and protections4 4 7b7 ,applicability of current definitions ,section #aabf7;d7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code is amended by striking the matter preceding paragraph 7#a7 and inserting the following3 ,in this section and section #aabf;a of this title34 #d4 ,extension of commissary and exchange benefits for remarried spouses with dependent children 7a7 ,benefits ,section #ajfb of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,the ,secretary of ,defense and inserting the following3 7a7 ,certain unremarried former spouses ,the ,secretary of ,defense 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7b7 ,certain remarried surviving spouses ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to provide that a surviving spouse of a deceased member of the armed forces1 regardless of the marital status of the surviving spouse1 who has guardianship of dependent children of the deceased member is entitled to use commissary stores and ,,mwr retail facilities to the same extent and on the same basis as the unremarried surviving spouse of a member of the uniformed services4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,section #ajfb of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is further amended-- 7#a7 by striking commissary and exchange privileges and inserting use commissary stores and ,,mwr retail facilities2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7c7 ,,mwr retail facilities ,the term ,,mwr retail facilities has the meaning given that term in section #ajfc7;e7 of this title4 4 7c7 ,clerical amendments 7#a7 ,section heading ,the heading of section #ajfb of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to read as follows3 #ajfb4 ,certain former spouses and surviving spouses 4 7#b7 ,table of sections ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #ed of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking the item relating to section #ajfb and inserting the following new item3 #ajfb4 ,certain former spouses and surviving spouses4 4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,november #g1 #bjag4;,clerk4