I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 9869 

To make dependents of members of the Armed Forces who died while serving 

on active duty eligible for enrollment in Department of Defense Education Activity schools on a tuition-free, space-available basis. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 

Mr. LALOTA (for himself and Mr. PANETTA) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition 

to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To make dependents of members of the Armed Forces who 

died while serving on active duty eligible for enrollment 

in Department of Defense Education Activity schools 

on a tuition-free, space-available basis. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gold Star Children 

5 Education Act of 2024’’. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 9869 IH

1 SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN DE2 CEASED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 

3 FOR ENROLLMENT IN DEPARTMENT OF DE4 FENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY SCHOOLS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 108 of title 10, United 

6 States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relat7 ing to section 2164a the following new section: 

8 ‘‘§ 2164b. Eligibility of dependents of certain de9 ceased members for enrollment in schools 

10 operated by Department of Defense Edu11 cation Activity 

12 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A dependent of a covered mem13 ber is eligible to enroll in a school operated by the Depart14 ment of Defense Education Activity without regard to— 

15 ‘‘(1) whether the dependent was enrolled in 

16 such a school on the date of the death of the mem17 ber; or 

18 ‘‘(2) the proximity of the school in which the 

19 dependent seeks enrollment to the location where the 

20 dependent resided on the date of the death of the 

21 member. 

22 ‘‘(b) TUITION-FREE, SPACE-AVAILABLE ENROLL23 MENT.—Enrollment of a dependent of a covered member 

24 in a school operated by the Department of Defense Edu25 cation Activity shall be on a tuition-free and space-avail26 able basis. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 9869 IH

1 ‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

2 ‘‘(1) The term ‘covered member’ means a mem3 ber of the Armed Forces who died while serving on 

4 active duty or active Guard and Reserve duty. 

5 ‘‘(2) The term ‘school operated by the Depart6 ment of Defense Education Activity’ means— 

7 ‘‘(A) a Department of Defense domestic 

8 dependent elementary or secondary school es9 tablished under section 2164 of this title; or 

10 ‘‘(B) any elementary or secondary school 

11 for dependents of members of the Armed 

12 Forces operated by the Department of Defense 

13 Education Activity.’’. 

14 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

15 at the beginning of chapter 108 of such title is amended 

16 by inserting after the item relating to section 2164a the 

17 following new item: 

‘‘2164b. Eligibility of dependents of certain deceased members for enrollment in 

schools operated by Department of Defense Education Activity.’’. 

18 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec19 tion or the amendments made by this section may be con20 strued to affect the eligibility of dependents of individuals 

21 described in subsection (j)(2) of section 2164 of title 10, 

22 United States Code, for enrollment in a Department of 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HR 9869 IH

1 Defense education program provided by the Secretary of 

2 Defense pursuant to subsection (a) of that section. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB