Skip to main content
HR 7727 116th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Cemeteries and funerals National Guard and reserves State and local government operations Veterans' organizations and recognition

Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2020

Introduced: July 22, 2020 Introduced by: Pappas, Chris Democratic · New Hampshire See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 6, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Jul 22, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jul 22, 2020
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2020

This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from establishing a condition for a cemetery grant that restricts the ability of a state to inter certain reservists (or spouses) at a state-owned veterans' cemetery solely because such individuals are ineligible for burial in an open national cemetery.

Specifically, as a condition for grants, the VA cannot restrict the ability of a state to inter a

  • member of a reserve component whose service was terminated under honorable conditions;
  • member of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard whose service was terminated under honorable conditions;
  • member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force who died under honorable conditions while a member; and
  • spouse of any member described above.

The VA is prohibited from (1) denying an application for a grant solely on the basis that the recipient state may use funds to expand, improve, operate, or maintain a veterans' cemetery to allow for the internment of the specified reservists; and (2) enforcing certain conditions on grants for state veterans' cemeteries that were established before the date of enactment of this bill.

What's happening now October 6, 2020

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2