Honor Those Who Served Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-2018
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15]
Introduced: 2013-05-16
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals

Religion

Veterans' organizations and recognition
Latest action: action_date: 2013-05-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-05-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Honor Those Who Served Act of 2013 - Revises veterans' burial benefits provisions to allow a person to request a headstone or marker from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to commemorate an eligible individual if such person is: (1) the decedent's next of kin; (2) a person authorized by the next of kin to make such request; (3) a personal representative authorized by the decedent to make such request; (4) in the case of a decedent for whom there is no person under (1) through (3) identified, a state veterans agency, a military researcher, a local historian, a genealogist, or other person familiar with methods necessary to prove the identity of the decedent; or (5) in the case of a veteran who served on active duty at least 62 years before the date on which the headstone or marker is requested, any person.</p> <p>Allows for the request of a headstone or marker without an emblem of religious belief.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2018 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 16, 2013 Mr. Stivers (for himself, Mr. Tiberi , and Mrs. Beatty ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to identify the persons who are eligible to request headstones or markers furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and or other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Honor Those Who Served Act of 2013 . 2. Persons eligible to request headstones or markers furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections: (h) A person may request a headstone or marker to commemorate a decedent under this section if the person is— (1) the decedent’s next of kin; (2) a person authorized in writing by the decedent’s next of kin to make such request; (3) a personal representative authorized in writing by the decedent to make such request; (4) in the case of a decedent for whom no person described in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) may be identified, a State veterans service agency, a military researcher, a local historian, or a genealogist or other person familiar with the research sources and methods necessary to prove the identity of the decedent; or (5) in the case of a decedent who is a veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces at least 62 years before the date on which the headstone or marker is requested, any person. (i) In the case of a request for a headstone or marker under this section for a decedent for whom insufficient information exists regarding the religious beliefs of the individual to select an appropriate emblem of belief for the headstone or marker of the decedent, the person requesting the headstone or marker may request a headstone or marker without an emblem of belief. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a request for a headstone or marker submitted after the date of the enactment of this Act.