Protecting our Veterans’ Memories Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Protecting our Veterans’ Memories Act amends title 38 burial-benefit rules so the VA Secretary must pay a $525 plot or interment allowance, indexed under existing law, to a State, State agency, or State political subdivision when certain family members of eligible veterans are buried in a State-owned cemetery. Covered family members include spouses, surviving spouses including those who later remarried, minor children including certain students under age 23, and, at the Secretary’s discretion, unmarried adult children of eligible veterans. The change applies to deaths occurring on or after enactment.
Who Benefits and How
State veterans cemeteries benefit from a Federal allowance when they bury eligible spouses and children, helping defray plot or interment costs. Surviving spouses, minor children, students under age 23, and certain unmarried adult children of veterans benefit indirectly because State cemeteries receive support for their burial. Veterans’ families benefit from a clearer Federal contribution tied to family-member interment in State cemeteries.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Veterans Affairs must administer the new family-member plot allowance, determine eligibility, apply indexing, and pay State cemetery owners or political subdivisions. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of extending allowance payments beyond veterans to covered family members. State cemeteries may need to document qualifying relationships and burial dates to receive payment.
Key Provisions
- Amends title 38 to require VA plot or interment allowance payments for covered spouses and children of eligible veterans buried in State cemeteries.
- Authorizes a $525 allowance, increased over time under existing indexing rules, paid to the State cemetery owner or political subdivision.
- Expands covered individuals to surviving spouses, minor children, certain students under age 23, and discretionary unmarried adult children.
- Applies the new allowance to deaths occurring on or after enactment.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Creates a Department of Veterans Affairs plot or interment allowance for spouses, surviving spouses, minor children, and certain unmarried adult children of eligible veterans when they are buried in State-owned cemeteries.
Key Policy Areas
Veterans, State & Local Government, Burial Benefits
Primary Purpose
Creates a Department of Veterans Affairs plot or interment allowance for spouses, surviving spouses, minor children, and certain unmarried adult children of eligible veterans when they are buried in State-owned cemeteries.
Policy Domains
Substantive provisions
Identified Gains
- State veterans cemeteries
- Surviving spouses of eligible veterans
- Minor children of eligible veterans
- Veterans families using State cemeteries
Identified Costs
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Federal taxpayers
- State cemetery administrators
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Mrs. Watson Coleman introduced the following bill; which was referred …
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in House
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
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