CRAMER: HOUSE PASSES LEGISLATION TO AID FAMILIES OF VETERANS

Recording: Audio

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Cramer voted for legislation passed today in the House of Representatives to close the gap of benefits between families and service members.  

“The families of the men and women who serve our country deserve to be treated with the utmost respect for their sacrifice,” said Cramer. “It’s never easy to say goodbye to a loved one. Through today’s legislation we are helping remove the obstacles between service members and their spouses during funeral arangements. It is my hope we can ensure benefits are received by veterans from the time they are active duty throughout their family legacy.”      

Read more here on the House’s action to address the needs of veterans and active duty members.   

Summary of the bills

H.R. 4910, the Veterans Cemetery Benefit Correction Act, would require the Department of the Interior to provide outer burial receptacles for veterans remains buried in open cemeteries under National Park Service control. This bill acts in compliance with the regulations of the VA and Department of the Army for the use of outer burial receptacles in cemeteries.  

H.R. 4335, the Service member Family Burial Act, would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to bury deceased spouses and dependents of active duty service members in national cemeteries, if such death occurs before October 1, 2024. Current law prohibits spouses and dependents from being buried in a national cemetery if the spouse or dependent dies before the active duty service member.   

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