Bill Details
HR.647 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-10-17 - Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 295.
Introduced Date
2025-01-23
Policy Area
Armed Forces and National Security
Committees
View committees (1)
Sponsors
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (17)
- Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-South Carolina-3]
- Rep. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-American Samoa]
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-Kentucky-3]
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-Illinois-13]
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-California-9]
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-New York-3]
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-Oregon-5]
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-New Mexico-2]
- Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-Ohio-7]
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-Nevada-3]
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-Virginia-7]
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-California-19]
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-New Jersey-5]
- Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-Indiana-6]
- Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-Florida-8]
- Rep. Carson, André [D-Indiana-7]
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-Pennsylvania-17]
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would make it easier for some veterans and eligible family members to receive burial items from the Department of Veterans Affairs. It removes an old date limit that could block some people from getting a VA headstone, marker, or burial receptacle, and it allows extra burial help in cases where the VA provides an urn or plaque instead of a headstone or marker. The bill also extends a deadline related to certain pension payment limits. In short, it updates VA burial benefits so more people can qualify and ensures these benefits can be used in more situations.
- It removes the “died on or after November 11, 1998” limit for some VA burial items, which broadens who can qualify.
- It changes the rules for cases where the VA furnishes an urn or plaque, so additional burial benefits can be provided in those situations.
- The new urn or plaque rule would apply to individuals who die on or after January 5, 2021.
- It also extends a separate pension payment limit date from November 30, 2031, to May 31, 2033.
Official Summaries
Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025
This bill provides that the provision of an urn or commemorative plaque does not prohibit an individual from receiving a headstone or marker or other burial benefits (i.e., interment at a national cemetery) from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under current law, individuals who request an urn or plaque do so in lieu of being furnished a headstone or burial benefit.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 647 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 295
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 647
[Report No. 119-343]
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the provision of
certain additional burial benefits for individuals for whom an urn or
plaque is furnished, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 23, 2025
Mr. Yakym (for himself and Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
October 17, 2025
Additional sponsors: Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. McGarvey, Ms. Budzinski, Mr.
Harder of California, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Bynum, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Miller of
Ohio, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Vindman, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr.
Shreve, Mr. Haridopolos, Mr. Carson, and Mr. Deluzio
October 17, 2025
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January
23, 2025]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the provision of
certain additional burial benefits for individuals for whom an urn or
plaque is furnished, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring Veterans' Final Resting
Place Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
HEADSTONES, MARKERS, AND BURIAL RECEPTACLES FOR CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS.
Subsection (b)(2) of section 2306 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended in subparagraphs (B) and (C) by striking ``who dies on or
after November 11, 1998,'' each place it appears.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL BURIAL
BENEFITS WHEN AN URN OR PLAQUE IS PROVIDED.
(a) In General.--Subsection (h) of such section is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``In lieu of furnishing a
headstone or marker under this section for'' and inserting ``In
the case of'';
(2) by striking paragraph (2);
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as
paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; and
(4) in paragraph (1) by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and
inserting ``paragraph (2)''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to an individual who dies on or after January 5,
2021.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting ``May 31, 2033''.
Union Calendar No. 295
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 647
[Report No. 119-343]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the provision of
certain additional burial benefits for individuals for whom an urn or
plaque is furnished, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 17, 2025
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed