Esty gets `Gold-Star Dad’ bill through House

Rep. Esty's ``Gold Star'' bill wins House approval.

Rep. Esty’s “Gold Star” bill wins House approval.

The House of Representatives on Monday approved bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Esty that gives federal job-application preference to “Gold Star Fathers’’ – dads who are parents of deceased or disabled veterans.

Federal law already gives job preference to “Gold Star Mothers’’ whose veteran sons or daughters are deceased or disabled. Esty’s legislation extending the preference to fathers had already passed the Senate, and now goes to the president’s desk for signature and enactment.

“Those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country deserve to know that we will support and care for the loved ones they leave behind,’’ Esty said in a statement. “In many cases, not only have these parents undergone significant trauma emotionally, but they may have also lost a source of their financial stability or even have mounting medical bills from the care of their loved ones.’’

“It only makes sense that Gold Star Fathers receive the same considerations as Gold Star Mothers,’’ said Joseph Nolan of Waterbury, a Vietnam veteran who lost his son, Joe, in Iraq in 2004. “While we can’t bring my son back, we can work to spread awareness about Gold Star families. Passage of this bill is great news for Gold Star families in Connecticut and across America.’’

Daniel Freedman