Senate Bill Seeks to Restore Full VA Burial Benefits for Veterans

A collaborative initiative in the U.S. Senate aims to address a burial benefits concern impacting veterans and their families. Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) have put forth a bill that would enable veterans to obtain full burial benefits at VA national cemeteries, regardless of whether they have previously accepted a VA plaque or urn.

The problem arises from the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, which permitted veterans opting for cremation to obtain a VA-provided commemorative plaque or urn. Nonetheless, the law unintentionally excluded those veterans from obtaining burial benefits at national cemeteries. Surviving spouses maintained burial rights, leading to a poignant conflict for families wishing to be interred together.

The bill has garnered support in both chambers of Congress, enhancing its likelihood of passage. This change will greatly benefit veterans and their families, ensuring that military families receive the dignity they deserve at VA cemeteries.

The VA acknowledges the bill’s purpose, but officials project that the expenses may total $210 million over the next decade. Legislators and advocates for veterans contend that fulfilling the final wishes of service members takes precedence over financial considerations.

Veterans can stay informed about this legislation by following VA announcements or reaching out to local veterans’ organizations for support.

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