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H.R. 4511: Gold Star Families Voices Act

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H.R. 4511: Gold Star Families Voices Act

114th Congress · introduced 2016-02-09 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Became Public Law No: 114-246.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2016-02-09 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: Senate vote 152 (2016): On Passage of the Bill, HR4511 (2016-11-15), Bill Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 114-246. (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Gold Star Families Voices Act

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Gold Star Families Voices Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Veterans' Oral History Project Act to require the veterans oral history program to include the collection of video and audio recordings of biographical histories by immediate family members of members of the Armed Forces who became missing in action or who died as a result of their wartime service.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Gold Star Families Voices Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · 7 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4511, Gold Star Families Voices Act (2016-06-15)

Cosponsors on this site

Scott Perry (R-PA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] reported raising $797,217 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr4511 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114