By Jonathan Salant of the Star Ledger/NJ.com

The U.S. Senate has cleared legislation to add Gold Star families to the Library of Congress veterans history project, enabling them to tell stories of their loved ones killed while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), would have the Library of Congress, which now collects interviews with veterans, also seek stories from family members of those killed or missing in action. 

The bill passed the Senate Monday after gaining approval in the House in September before Congress recessed for the election. It now goes to President Barack Obama.

"I urge the president to sign the bill as soon as possible so current and future generations of Americans can better understand and appreciate the experiences of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in their service of our country," Smith said.

The Library of Congress now has more than 100,000 stories from veterans from World War I to the prevent day under a program created in 2000.

"Exclusion from the Veterans History Project of service members who never made it home from deployment was a substantial oversight that will be fixed with implementation of this bill," he said.

This story can be can be found online at:

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/11/post_88.html