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Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act

USA119th CongressHR-4398| House 
| Updated: 12/3/2025
Tom Emmer

Tom Emmer

Republican Representative

Minnesota

Cosponsors (120)
Sheri Biggs (Republican)Barry Moore (Republican)Adrian Smith (Republican)Becca Balint (Democratic)Tom Cole (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (Republican)Guy Reschenthaler (Republican)Richard McCormick (Republican)Ashley Hinson (Republican)Brett Guthrie (Republican)Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democratic)Andy Harris (Republican)Steve Womack (Republican)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Chrissy Houlahan (Democratic)David J. Taylor (Republican)Scott Franklin (Republican)Elijah Crane (Republican)Mark Alford (Republican)Thomas P. Tiffany (Republican)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)Lance Gooden (Republican)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Keith Self (Republican)Glenn Thompson (Republican)Shontel M. Brown (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Kristen McDonald Rivet (Democratic)Mike Carey (Republican)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Beth Van Duyne (Republican)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)Brad Knott (Republican)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Jeff Hurd (Republican)Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Dan Newhouse (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)Anna Paulina Luna (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)André Carson (Democratic)Mike Flood (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)Jill N. Tokuda (Democratic)Nancy Mace (Republican)Roger Williams (Republican)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Brad Finstad (Republican)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Tony Wied (Republican)Glenn Grothman (Republican)Brian J. Mast (Republican)Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Josh Harder (Democratic)John R. Moolenaar (Republican)Mark B. Messmer (Republican)Laurel M. Lee (Republican)Scott Fitzgerald (Republican)Harriet M. Hageman (Republican)August Pfluger (Republican)Nicholas J. Begich (Republican)Pat Harrigan (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Josh Riley (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican)Gabe Evans (Republican)Abraham J. Hamadeh (Republican)Russell Fry (Republican)Scott DesJarlais (Republican)Pete Stauber (Republican)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Randy Fine (Republican)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Dale W. Strong (Republican)Addison P. McDowell (Republican)James C. Moylan (Republican)Riley M. Moore (Republican)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Wesley Hunt (Republican)John W. Rose (Republican)Derrick Van Orden (Republican)Dan Crenshaw (Republican)Adam Gray (Democratic)Max L. Miller (Republican)Jay Obernolte (Republican)Randy Feenstra (Republican)Juan Ciscomani (Republican)Robert E. Latta (Republican)Seth Moulton (Democratic)John J. McGuire (Republican)Tom Barrett (Republican)Burgess Owens (Republican)Ben Cline (Republican)Russ Fulcher (Republican)Michael Lawler (Republican)Nick LaLota (Republican)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)George Whitesides (Democratic)Susie Lee (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Jimmy Patronis (Republican)Tracey Mann (Republican)Ryan Mackenzie (Republican)Michelle Fischbach (Republican)Robert B. Aderholt (Republican)Bryan Steil (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)Craig A. Goldman (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation addresses significant delays in the signing of death certificates for veterans who pass away from natural causes, which Congress identifies as preventing timely burials and access to crucial survivor benefits. The bill's primary purpose is to ensure that these certifications are completed promptly, thereby alleviating the burden on veterans' families. Specifically, it directs a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who served as the veteran's primary care provider, to certify the death within 48 hours of learning of it. If the VA physician or nurse practitioner cannot comply, a coroner or medical examiner in the relevant jurisdiction may perform the certification. Furthermore, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to submit an annual report to Congress detailing compliance rates, the number of non-compliant cases, and the most common reasons for any delays.
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Timeline
Jul 15, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Dec 3, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 18, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2309
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  • July 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 15, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • December 3, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • March 18, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2309
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • S 119-2309: Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act

Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act

USA119th CongressHR-4398| House 
| Updated: 12/3/2025
This legislation addresses significant delays in the signing of death certificates for veterans who pass away from natural causes, which Congress identifies as preventing timely burials and access to crucial survivor benefits. The bill's primary purpose is to ensure that these certifications are completed promptly, thereby alleviating the burden on veterans' families. Specifically, it directs a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who served as the veteran's primary care provider, to certify the death within 48 hours of learning of it. If the VA physician or nurse practitioner cannot comply, a coroner or medical examiner in the relevant jurisdiction may perform the certification. Furthermore, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to submit an annual report to Congress detailing compliance rates, the number of non-compliant cases, and the most common reasons for any delays.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
Jul 15, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Dec 3, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 18, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2309
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  • July 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 15, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • December 3, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • March 18, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2309
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Tom Emmer

Tom Emmer

Republican Representative

Minnesota

Cosponsors (120)
Sheri Biggs (Republican)Barry Moore (Republican)Adrian Smith (Republican)Becca Balint (Democratic)Tom Cole (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (Republican)Guy Reschenthaler (Republican)Richard McCormick (Republican)Ashley Hinson (Republican)Brett Guthrie (Republican)Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democratic)Andy Harris (Republican)Steve Womack (Republican)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Chrissy Houlahan (Democratic)David J. Taylor (Republican)Scott Franklin (Republican)Elijah Crane (Republican)Mark Alford (Republican)Thomas P. Tiffany (Republican)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)Lance Gooden (Republican)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Keith Self (Republican)Glenn Thompson (Republican)Shontel M. Brown (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Kristen McDonald Rivet (Democratic)Mike Carey (Republican)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Beth Van Duyne (Republican)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)Brad Knott (Republican)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Jeff Hurd (Republican)Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Dan Newhouse (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)Anna Paulina Luna (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)André Carson (Democratic)Mike Flood (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)Jill N. Tokuda (Democratic)Nancy Mace (Republican)Roger Williams (Republican)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Brad Finstad (Republican)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Tony Wied (Republican)Glenn Grothman (Republican)Brian J. Mast (Republican)Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Josh Harder (Democratic)John R. Moolenaar (Republican)Mark B. Messmer (Republican)Laurel M. Lee (Republican)Scott Fitzgerald (Republican)Harriet M. Hageman (Republican)August Pfluger (Republican)Nicholas J. Begich (Republican)Pat Harrigan (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Josh Riley (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican)Gabe Evans (Republican)Abraham J. Hamadeh (Republican)Russell Fry (Republican)Scott DesJarlais (Republican)Pete Stauber (Republican)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Randy Fine (Republican)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Dale W. Strong (Republican)Addison P. McDowell (Republican)James C. Moylan (Republican)Riley M. Moore (Republican)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Wesley Hunt (Republican)John W. Rose (Republican)Derrick Van Orden (Republican)Dan Crenshaw (Republican)Adam Gray (Democratic)Max L. Miller (Republican)Jay Obernolte (Republican)Randy Feenstra (Republican)Juan Ciscomani (Republican)Robert E. Latta (Republican)Seth Moulton (Democratic)John J. McGuire (Republican)Tom Barrett (Republican)Burgess Owens (Republican)Ben Cline (Republican)Russ Fulcher (Republican)Michael Lawler (Republican)Nick LaLota (Republican)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)George Whitesides (Democratic)Susie Lee (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Jimmy Patronis (Republican)Tracey Mann (Republican)Ryan Mackenzie (Republican)Michelle Fischbach (Republican)Robert B. Aderholt (Republican)Bryan Steil (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)Craig A. Goldman (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • S 119-2309: Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted