Committee advances bill to create Gold Star Family Annuity Program after emotional testimony from survivors
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Summary
S1839, establishing a New Jersey Gold Star Family Annuity Program, was advanced by the committee after testimony from Gold Star advocates including Patricia Bai of American Gold Star Mothers, who described financial and emotional hardships faced by families of fallen service members.
The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee on Feb. 20 released S1839, which would establish the New Jersey Gold Star Family Annuity Program to provide ongoing annuity support for families of service members who died while on active duty.
Witnesses included Charles Amiano of Gold Star Patriots and Patricia Bai, president of American Gold Star Mothers Department of New Jersey, who described personal loss and testified that modest, regular annuity payments would symbolically and materially support families who have lost service members. Bai referenced her son, Fireman Jeffrey M. Sabota of the United States Coast Guard, who died on active duty in 2010, and said the program “says to every parent, husband, wife, child left behind that our loved ones' sacrifice mattered, and they will not be forgotten.”
Committee members expressed support; a motion to release S1839 passed by recorded roll call. Members noted the bill had been prefiled and updated after technical review; one senator left an affirmative vote on the record on behalf of another who was absent. The committee indicated the bill will proceed to subsequent references for further consideration and fiscal review.
