SRES-664-116
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4650; text: CR S4637)
Sponsored by Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
What it does
This Senate resolution designates the week of September 20-26, 2020, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week." It honors families of service members who died while serving in the Armed Forces and families of veterans, and encourages Americans to observe the week through community service and remembrance activities. It creates no new programs, funding, or legal obligations.
Who benefits
Gold Star families (relatives of service members who died in service) and veterans' families receive symbolic recognition. Veterans service organizations may use the designation to promote awareness and community events.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully affected. The resolution has no regulatory, spending, or legal effect on any party.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that Gold Star families have made an extraordinary sacrifice by losing a loved one in military service and deserve formal national recognition beyond the existing Gold Star Mother's Day. They contend that a dedicated remembrance week encourages communities to perform acts of service and keeps the sacrifices of these families from being forgotten.
Opponents argue
Opponents might argue that symbolic resolutions like this consume floor time and staff resources that could go toward substantive veterans' benefits legislation with concrete funding or services. They contend that commemorative designations, while well-intentioned, do not address material needs such as survivor benefits or mental health support for these families.
Constitutional context
This resolution raises no constitutional question beyond the Senate's general authority to adopt simple resolutions expressing sentiment, which does not require presidential signature or carry the force of law.
Checks and balances
This is a Senate-only expression of sentiment with no binding legal effect, so it does not shift authority between branches and requires no check.
Historical precedent
Congress has periodically passed similar commemorative resolutions honoring Gold Star families, building on the 1936 joint resolution establishing Gold Star Mother's Day.