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Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025
H. R. 647 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the provision of certain additional burial benefits for individuals for whom an urn or plaque is furnished, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill amends veterans' benefits law to expand eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs-provided headstones, markers, and burial receptacles by removing date restrictions that previously limited who could receive these benefits. The bill modifies rules governing the provision of urns or plaques as alternatives to headstones or markers, applying these changes retroactively to individuals who died on or after January 5, 2021. The bill also extends a deadline related to limits on pension payments from November 30, 2031, to May 31, 2033. The changes are intended to ensure more veterans and eligible individuals have access to burial benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2] (R-IN)
17 cosponsors
- Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large] (R-AS)
- Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3] (R-SC)
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL)
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR)
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN)
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA)
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ)
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA)
- Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8] (R-FL)
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV)
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY)
- Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7] (R-OH)
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA)
- Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6] (R-IN)
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY)
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM)
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Rudy Yakym’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $48,900
- JAYCO $19,800
- DARYLE DODEN PERSONAL FINANCES $19,800
- KPS CAPITAL PARTNERS LP $13,200
- BRINKLEY RV $13,200
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Rudy Yakym → · Outside spending →
Actions (9)
- Oct 17, 2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 295. · house
- Oct 17, 2025 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-343. · house
- May 6, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Apr 9, 2025 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote. · house
- Apr 9, 2025 Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Mar 26, 2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held · house
- Mar 4, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. · house
- Jan 23, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · house
- Jan 23, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
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.
Committee action
What happened to this bill in committee — the meetings where it was considered and every recorded vote taken on it.
Meetings where this bill was on the agenda
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 23, 2025
Mr. Yakym (for himself and Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
October 17, 2025
Additional sponsors: Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. McGarvey, Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Harder of California, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Bynum, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Vindman, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Shreve, Mr. Haridopolos, Mr. Carson, and Mr. Deluzio
October 17, 2025
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 23, 2025]
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the provision of certain additional burial benefits for individuals for whom an urn or plaque is furnished, 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 “Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEADSTONES, MARKERS, AND BURIAL RECEPTACLES FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.
Subsection (b)(2) of section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, is amended in subparagraphs (B) and (C) by striking “who dies on or after November 11, 1998,” each place it appears.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL BURIAL BENEFITS WHEN AN URN OR PLAQUE IS PROVIDED.
(a) In General.—Subsection (h) of such section is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “In lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker under this section for” and inserting “In the case of”;
(2) by striking paragraph (2);
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; and
(4) in paragraph (1) by striking “paragraph (3)” and inserting “paragraph (2)”.
(b) Applicability.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an individual who dies on or after January 5, 2021.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “November 30, 2031” and inserting “May 31, 2033”. Union Calendar No. 295
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 647
[Report No. 119-343]
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the provision of certain additional burial benefits for individuals for whom an urn or plaque is furnished, and for other purposes.
October 17, 2025
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
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