Chuck Osier Burial Benefits Act

Bill: 116-hr-5639
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Brindisi, Anthony [D-NY-22]
Introduced: 2020-01-16
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals

Monuments and memorials

Veterans' organizations and recognition
Latest action: action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-01-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Chuck Osier Burial Benefits Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish an urn or commemorative plaque in lieu of a headstone or marker to eligible deceased individuals if requested. Specifically, the United States must pay for an urn (in which the remains of such individual may be placed at private expense) or a commemorative plaque signifying the individual's status as a veteran.</p> <p>Eligible deceased individuals are those who</p> <ul> <li>served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917;</li> <li>are buried in a private cemetery but eligible for burial in a national cemetery;</li> <li>are buried in a private cemetery and were entitled to a headstone, marker or medallion (or would have been but for their age); and</li> <li>were cremated and not interred in a national cemetery, a state veterans' cemetery, a tribal cemetery, or a private cemetery. </li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5639 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 16, 2020 Mr. Brindisi (for himself and Mr. Waltz ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish urns for the remains of certain veterans whose cremated remains are not interred in certain cemeteries.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Chuck Osier Burial Benefits Act . 2. Department of Veterans Affairs provision of urns for remains of certain veterans whose cremated remains are not interred in certain cemeteries Section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections (i) and (j), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection (h): (h) (1) In lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker under this section to a deceased individual described in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall furnish, upon request and at the expense of the United States— (A) an urn made of any material to signify the individual’s status as a veteran, in which the remains of such individual may be placed at private expense; or (B) a commemorative plaque signifying the individual’s status as a veteran. (2) If the Secretary provides an urn or commemorative plaque for a veteran under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not provide for such veteran— (A) a headstone or marker under this section; or (B) any burial benefit under section 2402 of this title. (3) A deceased individual described in this paragraph is an individual— (A) who served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917; (B) who is eligible for a headstone or marker furnished under subsection (d) (or would be so eligible but for the date of the death of the individual); and (C) whose remains were cremated and not interred in a national cemetery, a State veterans’ cemetery, a tribal cemetery, or a private cemetery. .