Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025 | ChamberLight

REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS

Senate BillS 1116Veterans' organizations and recognitionCemeteries and funerals

Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025

INTRO MAR 25· LAST ACTION MAR 18

READING

1MIN

COSPONSORS

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

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Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill matters because it offers greater flexibility and recognition for veterans' final resting places. In modern times, more people are choosing cremation or other alternatives to traditional ground burial. If this bill becomes law, it would update VA policy to reflect these changing preferences, ensuring that veterans' families aren't limited in how they can commemorate their loved ones based on their chosen method of disposition. If it doesn't become law, the current 'either/or' policy would remain, potentially forcing families to choose between different forms of VA-provided commemoration.

KEY PROVISIONS

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PROVISION 01

Removes the existing restriction that prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from providing additional burial benefits (like a headstone or grave marker) if an urn or plaque is already furnished.

This allows veterans' families more options for commemorating their loved ones, ensuring they aren't limited to just one type of VA-provided memorial.

PROVISION 02

Changes the language in current law to clarify that the provision of an urn or plaque does not preclude the provision of other burial benefits.

This ensures that VA policies reflect and accommodate diverse memorialization choices, such as cremation.

PROVISION 03

The changes made by this bill would apply to individuals who die on or after January 5, 2021.

This provision makes the new benefits retroactive for a period, potentially assisting families who have recently lost a veteran.

SPONSORSHIP

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COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 100%

DEM 1 REP 1 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

4 EVENTS

MAR 18

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

COMMITTEE

DEC 10

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-247.

COMMITTEE

MAR 25

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

MAR 25

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeSenate Bill

NumberS 1116

Congress119th

StatusReported

IntroducedMar 25, 2025

Last actionMar 18, 2026

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REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS · VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 25, 2025

Senate BillS 1116Veterans' organizations and recognitionCemeteries and funerals

Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025

INTRODUCED MAR 25, 2025· LAST ACTION MAR 18, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

1 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 3 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

This allows veterans' families more options for commemorating their loved ones, ensuring they aren't limited to just one type of VA-provided memorial.

med

Changes the language in current law to clarify that the provision of an urn or plaque does not preclude the provision of other burial benefits.

This ensures that VA policies reflect and accommodate diverse memorialization choices, such as cremation.

med

The changes made by this bill would apply to individuals who die on or after January 5, 2021.

This provision makes the new benefits retroactive for a period, potentially assisting families who have recently lost a veteran.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

January 5, 2021

Applicability of the amendments for individuals who die on or after this date.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Title 38, United States Code: The section of federal law that deals with veterans' benefits, services, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Headstone or marker: A stone or plaque placed at a grave to identify the deceased and often commemorate them.
Urn or plaque: An urn is a container for cremated remains; a plaque is a flat piece of material, often metal or stone, used for commemoration. The VA provides these for veterans.
Burial benefits: Services and items provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist with the burial and commemoration of eligible veterans.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): A cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government whose mission is to provide lifelong healthcare services to eligible military veterans and their families.

ACTION TIMELINE

4 EVENTS

MAR 18

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

COMMITTEE

DEC 10, 25

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-247.

COMMITTEE

MAR 25, 25

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

MAR 25, 25

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

INTROREFERRAL

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MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Veterans' Affairs CommitteeReferred

Mar 18, 2026

senate

Related Hearings

Business meeting to consider S.342, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize an individual who is awarded the Purple Heart for service in the Armed Forces to transfer unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to a family member, S.410, to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for surviving spouses, S.649, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to members of the National Guard who perform certain full-time duty, S.1116, 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, S.1657, to amend title 38, United States Code, to limit the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to deny the claim of a veteran for benefits under the laws administered by such Secretary on the sole basis that such veteran failed to appear for a medical examination associated with such claim, S.1665, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure veterans of secrecy oath programs receive the full benefits they have earned, S.1726, to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify that the Department of Veterans Affairs definition of "medical services" includes medically necessary automobile adaptations, S.1868, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access by veterans to critical access hospitals and affiliated clinics under the Veterans Community Care Program, S.2061, to require the Interagency Working Group on Toxic Exposure to conduct research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving as members of the Armed Forces, S.2220, to expand presumptions of exposure by members of the Armed Forces to toxic substances, S.2264, to improve the emergency management capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.2309, to direct a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certify the death of a veteran not later than 48 hours after such physician or nurse practitioner learns of such death, S.2328, to authorize the use of veterans educational assistance for examinations and assessments to receive credit toward degrees awarded by institutions of higher learning, S.2333, to require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit supplementation of health records of deceased veterans, S.2397, to require implementation by the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs of certain recommendations relating to the provision of health care through community care providers, S.2683, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer, S.2807, to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the applicability of the authority to reconsider decisions of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Secretary of the Army to inter remains or honor the memory of a person in a national cemetery, S.2981, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of prosthetic and rehabilitative items and services by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.3033, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish partnerships between medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and medical facilities in rural areas, S.3119, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make temporary lodging facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs available for members of the Armed Forces, other individuals on active duty, and family members of such individuals on a space-available basis, S.3138, to amend title 38, United States Code, to include adaptive prostheses and terminal devices for sports and other recreational activities in the medical services furnished to eligible veterans by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, S.3303, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to establish or enhance a community integration platform for services for veterans, to require the collection from veterans of information related to social determinants of health, S.3758, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make opioid overdose rescue medications available to veterans and their caregivers, and a committee resolution.

Veterans' Affairs Committee (senate)Mar 18, 2026

Video

Hearings to examine S.342, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize an individual who is awarded the Purple Heart for service in the Armed Forces to transfer unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to a family member, S.668, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Falls Prevention of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.926, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to furnish to certain veterans items used for the secure storage of firearms, S.1116, 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, S.1657, to amend title 38, United States Code, to limit the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to deny the claim of a veteran for benefits under the laws administered by such Secretary on the sole basis that such veteran failed to appear for a medical examination associated with such claim, S.1665, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure veterans of secrecy oath programs receive the full benefits they have earned, S.1868, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access by veterans to critical access hospitals and affiliated clinics under the Veterans Community Care Program, S.1992, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of adjudications and appeals of claims for benefits under laws administered by Secretary of Veterans Affairs, S.2061, to require the Interagency Working Group on Toxic Exposure to conduct research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving as members of the Armed Forces, S.2220, to expand presumptions of exposure by members of the Armed Forces to toxic substances, S.2264, to improve the emergency management capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.2309, to direct a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certify the death of a veteran not later than 48 hours after such physician or nurse practitioner learns of such death, S.2328, to authorize the use of veterans educational assistance for examinations and assessments to receive credit toward degrees awarded by institutions of higher learning, S.2333, to require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit supplementation of health records of deceased veterans, S.2397, to require implementation by the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs of certain recommendations relating to the provision of health care through community care providers, S.2683, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer, S.2737, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program to furnish hyperbaric oxygen therapy to certain veterans through community care providers, S.2807, to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the applicability of the authority to reconsider decisions of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Secretary of the Army to inter remains or honor the memory of a person in a national cemetery, S.3033, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish partnerships between medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and medical facilities in rural areas, S.3119, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make temporary lodging facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs available for members of the Armed Forces, other individuals on active duty, and family members of such individuals on a space-available basis, S.3303, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to establish or enhance a community integration platform for services for veterans, to require the collection from veterans of information related to social determinants of health, an original bill entitled, "Sharing Essential Resources for Veterans Everywhere (SERVE) Act', an original bill entitled, "Commission on Equity and Reconciliation in the Uniformed Services Act", and an original bill entitled, "Get Justice Involved Veterans BACK HOME Act".

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Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

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