WASHINGTON – October 12, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) today supported the Gold Star Fathers Act, which extends the federal hiring preference available to mothers of servicemembers who are killed in action or permanently and totally disabled to the fathers of these servicemembers. The bill passed the House unanimously.
“Our Gold Star Families represent those who have given innumerable sacrifices on behalf of our country,” said Rep. Denham. “My longtime friend and veterans advocate Mike Anderson is a Gold Star Father himself, so this bill hits especially close to home. All Gold Star Fathers should receive the same hiring preference as their wives as we recognize the contributions these families have made.”
In 1948, Congress established a hiring preference for federal jobs for the widowed, divorced or legally separated mothers of veterans who died in active duty in wartime or suffered a permanent and total disability connected to such service. This measure did not cover fathers of these veterans. This bipartisan bill, S. 136, extends that privilege to Gold Star Fathers, making it gender neutral.
Mike Anderson Sr. has been employed by Rep. Denham’s office since 2011 and currently serves as Rep. Denham’s Veteran and Military Liaison. At the time that Mr. Anderson was hired, Rep. Denham was the only member of Congress employing a Gold Star Father or Mother. The Gold Star Flag currently flies over Rep. Denham’s Modesto office and outside Rep. Denham’s DC office in the Longworth Congressional Office Building.
Mike Anderson Jr., a United States Marine, was killed in the battle for Fallujah on December 14, 2004, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Cpl. Anderson was 21 years old. He grew up in Modesto and was a graduate of Johanson High School. He served in Japan, Guam and Haiti before being sent to Iraq on Sept. 11, 2004. Cpl. Anderson was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton.
