HR 647119th CongressIntroduced

Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025

Introduced: Jan 23, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2] (R-Indiana)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025 amends Title 38 to expand and clarify Department of Veterans Affairs burial-related benefits. Key changes include broadening eligibility for VA-provided headstones, markers, and burial receptacles by removing a date-based eligibility limit; reorganizing and expanding the VA burial benefits when an urn or plaque is provided (applicable to deaths on or after January 5, 2021); and extending a pension-related payment limit from November 30, 2031 to May 31, 2033. In short, the bill aims to make burial benefits more widely available and extend related pension timing, with benefit changes targeted at post-2021 urn/plaque scenarios and a broader eligibility window for memorial items.

Key Points

1Expands eligibility for VA headstones, markers, and burial receptacles by removing a date restriction tied to death dates (38 U.S.C. 2306(b)(2), in subparagraphs B and C).
2Reforms burial benefits when an urn or plaque is provided (amends 38 U.S.C. 2306(h)):
3- Clarifies that benefits are applicable “in the case of” urns or plaques.
4- Reorganizes the subsections to reflect new treatment of urn/plaque scenarios.
5- Applies to individuals who die on or after January 5, 2021.
6Extends the period for certain pension-related payments by changing the sunset date from November 30, 2031 to May 31, 2033 (38 U.S.C. 5503(d)(7)).
7The act is named the “Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025,” with introduced and later amended status, and has multiple sponsors beyond the initial introducers.

Impact Areas

Primary: Veterans and eligible deceased individuals and their families who rely on VA burial benefits (headstones, markers, burial receptacles, and urn/plaque-related benefits).Secondary: Funeral service providers, cemeteries, veterans service organizations, and state/local agencies involved in burial and memorial processes, which may see changes in eligibility and administrative requirements.Additional impacts: VA budgeting and operations (cost and administrative adjustments due to broadened eligibility and new urn/plaque provisions), and a potential extension of pension- related timing for certain beneficiaries. The bill does not specify funding mechanisms, so total fiscal impact would be assessed during committee review.

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