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 Edu-
cation 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 con-
cerned 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gold Star Children 
Education Act of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN DE-
CEASED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 
FOR ENROLLMENT IN DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY SCHOOLS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 108 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relat-
ing to section 2164a the following new section: 
‘‘§ 2164b. Eligibility of dependents of certain de-
ceased members for enrollment in schools 
operated by Department of Defense Edu-
cation Activity 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A dependent of a covered mem-
ber is eligible to enroll in a school operated by the Depart-
ment of Defense Education Activity without regard to— 
‘‘(1) whether the dependent was enrolled in 
such a school on the date of the death of the mem-
ber; or 
‘‘(2) the proximity of the school in which the 
dependent seeks enrollment to the location where the 
dependent resided on the date of the death of the 
member. 
‘‘(b) TUITION-FREE, SPACE-AVAILABLE ENROLL-
MENT.—Enrollment of a dependent of a covered member 
in a school operated by the Department of Defense Edu-
cation Activity shall be on a tuition-free and space-avail-
able basis. 
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‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘covered member’ means a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces who died while serving on 
active duty or active Guard and Reserve duty. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘school operated by the Depart-
ment of Defense Education Activity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a Department of Defense domestic 
dependent elementary or secondary school es-
tablished under section 2164 of this title; or 
‘‘(B) any elementary or secondary school 
for dependents of members of the Armed 
Forces operated by the Department of Defense 
Education Activity.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 108 of such title is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 2164a the 
following new item: 
‘‘2164b. Eligibility of dependents of certain deceased members for enrollment in 
schools operated by Department of Defense Education Activ-
ity.’’. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion or the amendments made by this section may be con-
strued to affect the eligibility of dependents of individuals 
described in subsection (j)(2) of section 2164 of title 10, 
United States Code, for enrollment in a Department of 
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Defense education program provided by the Secretary of 
Defense pursuant to subsection (a) of that section. 
Æ 
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