HR6921-119

What This Bill Does

The Hawaiʻi National Cemetery Act addresses a burial-access gap for veterans and eligible family members in Hawaiʻi. Congress finds that VA seeks to keep most veterans within 75 miles of a national, State, or Tribal veterans cemetery, but that Hawaiʻi’s only national cemetery, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, has been essentially closed to casket burials since 1991 and is expected to stop accepting cremated remains by 2036. Veterans in Hawaiʻi who want inground national-cemetery burial may have to use a cemetery at least 2,500 miles away, creating travel, casket transportation, and visitation costs. The bill directs VA to establish a new national cemetery in Hawaiʻi, consult the Governor, veterans service organizations, and other stakeholders, identify appropriate sites within one year, and report annually until operations begin.

Who Benefits and How

Veterans in Hawaiʻi benefit because the bill starts the process for a national-cemetery option closer to home. Spouses, dependents, and eligible family members benefit from less burdensome burial and memorial visitation access. Hawaiʻi veterans service organizations benefit from a formal consultation role. The National Cemetery Administration benefits from congressional direction that aligns cemetery planning with island geography rather than only mainland distance metrics.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and National Cemetery Administration staff must select a site, conduct NEPA review, acquire land, complete master planning and design, prepare construction documents, award contracts, oversee construction, begin operations, and report annually to congressional veterans committees. Hawaiʻi officials and veterans service organizations must participate in consultation. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of planning, land acquisition, construction, and cemetery operations.

Key Provisions

• Requires VA to establish a new national cemetery in Hawaiʻi.
• Requires site selection to prioritize population-center access, transportation access, and minimized environmental impact.
• Requires consultation with the Governor of Hawaiʻi, local veterans service organizations, and other appropriate entities.
• Requires a site-identification report within one year.
• Requires annual progress reports on environmental review, land acquisition, design, construction contracting, construction completion, and operations.