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Veterans’ Cremation Certainty Act of 2025
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide direct payment to cremation providers for direct cremation designated by veterans prior to death, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill allows eligible veterans to pre-arrange direct cremation with the Veterans Affairs Department and designate a specific cremation provider. Upon the veteran's death, the VA will pay the cremation provider directly up to the amount authorized for burial benefits under existing law. The bill defines direct cremation as basic cremation without embalming, viewing, or funeral ceremony, and includes transportation of remains, a container, and delivery to the next of kin. Veterans can apply for this benefit through an integrated application process with the VA's existing pre-need eligibility determination process. The bill requires the VA to issue regulations within 120 days and applies to deaths occurring at least 180 days after the law's enactment.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] (R-AZ)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Andy Biggs’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- SAULSBURY INDUSTRIES $9,900
- 21ST CENTURY HEALTHCARE $7,500
- ULINE $6,600
- TW LEWIS COMPANY $6,600
- LEE BENSON $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Andy Biggs → · Outside spending →
Actions (3)
- Nov 17, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. · house
- Nov 7, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · house
- Nov 7, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 7, 2025
Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide direct payment to cremation providers for direct cremation designated by veterans prior to death, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans’ Cremation Certainty Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. DIRECT PAYMENT FOR DIRECT CREMATION.
(a) Direct Payment for Direct Cremation.—Chapter 23 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “Sec. 2309. Direct payment for direct cremation
“(a) Direct Payment.—Upon the death of an eligible veteran who has submitted an application described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall pay the direct cremation provider specified in such application the following applicable payment for the cost of direct cremation:
“(1) For a veteran described in section 2303(a)(2) of this title, such payment shall not exceed the amount authorized under such section and shall be in lieu of any benefit authorized under section 2302 of this title.
“(2) For a veteran described in section 2307 of this title, such payment shall not exceed the amount authorized under section 2307 of this title and shall be in lieu of any benefit authorized under section 2307 of this title.
“(b) Application.—An application described in this section is an application to the Secretary in which an eligible veteran elects direct cremation in lieu of benefits under section 2303 or 2307 of this title and specifies a direct cremation provider.
“(c) Integration With Pre-Need Eligibility Process.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure the application process under subsection (b) is integrated with the pre-need eligibility determination process (or successor process) pursuant to section 2404 of this title.
“(d) Definitions.—In this section:
“(1) The term ‘direct cremation provider’ means a crematory or funeral home that provides direct cremation.
“(2) The term ‘direct cremation’ means the basic cremation of human remains in a simple container without embalming, viewing, funeral ceremony, or inurnment. Such term includes—
“(A) transportation of the deceased from the place of death to the direct cremation provider;
“(B) a basic container or chosen urn;
“(C) delivery of the cremated remains to the next of kin or location of inurnment; and
“(D) completion of a death certificate.
“(3) The term ‘eligible veteran’ means a veteran eligible for benefits under this chapter and for interment in a national cemetery under section 2402 of this title.”.
(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents for chapter 23 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
“2309. Direct payment for direct cremation.”.
(c) Regulations.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations under section 2309 of such title, as added by this section.
(d) Application.—Section 2309 of such title, as added by this section, shall apply with respect to deaths that occur on or after the day that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. <all>
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