I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6921 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a new national 
cemetery in the State of Hawai’i, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 23, 2025 
Mr. CASE (for himself and Ms. TOKUDA) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish 
a new national cemetery in the State of Hawai’i, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hawai‘i National Cem-
etery Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Veterans, members of the Armed Forces, 
spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial in 
a national cemetery pursuant to regulations pre-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 09, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6921.IH
H6921
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
scribed under section 2402 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(2) According to the National Cemetery Admin-
istration Strategic Plan and Performance Goals, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs seeks to ensure that 
95 percent of veterans live within 75 miles of a na-
tional, State, or Tribal veterans cemetery. 
(3) The National Cemetery Administration’s 
Long Range Plan, as detailed in the budget submis-
sion of the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 
year 2026, sets goals that seek to improve burial 
benefits, including the following: 
(A) Veterans and eligible family members 
will have increased access to burial benefits. 
(B) More veterans and eligible family 
members will use such burial and memorial 
benefits. 
(C) Veterans will be memorialized through 
enhanced tributes befitting their service and 
sacrifice to the Nation. 
(D) Stakeholders will place greater trust in 
the National Cemetery Administration based on 
enhanced accountability. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 09, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6921.IH
H6921
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(E) Stakeholders will be served more effi-
ciently and effectively by internal capacity of 
the National Cemetery Administration. 
(4) The goals described in paragraph (3) do not 
account for veterans in Hawai‘i who prefer to be 
buried in a national cemetery even if other options 
exist. Hawai‘i’s only national cemetery, the National 
Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, has been essen-
tially closed to casketed burials since 1991 and will 
stop accepting cremated remains by 2036. Should a 
veteran in Hawai‘i prefer an inground burial in a 
national cemetery, they are forced to select a ceme-
tery at least 2,500 miles away. This distance can 
create significant financial and logistical burdens 
compared to veterans in the continental United 
States, as air travel that is often cost-prohibitive is 
required for casket transportation and visitation. 
(5) To maintain equitable access to burial bene-
fits in a national cemetery for veterans residing in 
Hawai‘i, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must ini-
tiate the construction of a new national cemetery in 
Hawai‘i to supplement the remaining columbarium 
space at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pa-
cific. The work should begin immediately, as devel-
oping a new national cemetery must pass through 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 09, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6921.IH
H6921
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
six phases and such a cemetery can take more than 
eight years to construct. 
(6) While Hawai‘i is home to many great State 
Veterans Cemeteries, establishment of a new na-
tional cemetery would align with the National Ceme-
tery Administration’s access goals and increase op-
tions for veterans and other beneficiaries in the Pa-
cific. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW NATIONAL CEMETERY IN 
THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—In accordance with chapter 
24 of title 38, United States Code, and the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a new na-
tional cemetery in the State of Hawai‘i. 
(b) SITE SELECTION.—In selecting a location for the 
national cemetery described in subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) give priority to a location that— 
(A) is near population centers; 
(B) is accessible by existing modes of 
transportation; and 
(C) minimizes environmental impact; and 
(2) consult with— 
(A) the Governor of Hawai‘i; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 09, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6921.IH
H6921
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(B) local representatives of veterans serv-
ice organizations; and 
(C) other entities the Secretary determines 
appropriate. 
(c) REPORTS.— 
(1) POTENTIAL
SITES.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report identifying sites that the 
Secretary determines appropriate for the national 
cemetery described in subsection (a). 
(2) PROGRESS REPORTS.—Not later than two 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and annually thereafter until the national cemetery 
described in subsection (a) is operational, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report regarding the establishment of 
such national cemetery, including progress regarding 
the following elements: 
(A) Site selection. 
(B) Environmental impact assessment. 
(C) Land acquisition. 
(D) Master planning and design develop-
ment. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 09, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6921.IH
H6921
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(E) Preparation of construction docu-
ments. 
(F) Award of construction contracts. 
(G) Completion of construction. 
(H) Beginning of operations. 
(d) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con-
gressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:39 Feb 09, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6921.IH
H6921
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS