Bill
Bill > HR4398
summary
Introduced
07/15/2025
07/15/2025
In Committee
12/03/2025
12/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
119th Congress
Bill Summary
A BILL To direct a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certify the death of a veteran not later than 48 hours after such physician or nurse practitioner learns of such death, and for other purposes.
AI Summary
This bill addresses delays in certifying veterans' death certificates by requiring Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians or nurse practitioners to certify a veteran's death within 48 hours of learning about it. The legislation stems from findings that some states and counties have experienced significant delays in death certificate processing, with some cases lasting up to eight weeks. These delays have prevented timely burials and access to survivor benefits. If a VA healthcare provider cannot certify the death within the 48-hour timeframe, a local coroner or medical examiner may do so instead. The bill mandates that the VA Secretary submit an annual report to Congressional Veterans' Affairs Committees detailing compliance with the new requirement, including the percentage of cases where physicians or nurse practitioners met the 48-hour certification timeline, the number of cases where they could not comply, and the primary reasons for non-compliance. The goal is to improve accountability and ensure more efficient processing of veterans' death certificates, ultimately supporting bereaved families in a timely manner.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (158)
Tom Emmer (R)*,
Robert Aderholt (R),
Mark Alford (R),
Gabe Amo (D),
Yassamin Ansari (D),
Don Bacon (R),
Jim Baird (R),
Becca Balint (D),
Tom Barrett (R),
Joyce Beatty (D),
Nicholas Begich (R),
Cliff Bentz (R),
Sheri Biggs (R),
Gus Bilirakis (R),
Shontel Brown (D),
Janelle Bynum (D),
Ken Calvert (R),
Salud Carbajal (D),
Mike Carey (R),
André Carson (D),
Buddy Carter (R),
Juan Ciscomani (R),
Ben Cline (R),
Tom Cole (R),
Jim Costa (D),
Eli Crane (R),
Rick Crawford (R),
Dan Crenshaw (R),
Jason Crow (D),
Sharice Davids (D),
Don Davis (D),
Diana DeGette (D),
Rosa DeLauro (D),
Chris Deluzio (D),
Scott DesJarlais (R),
Jake Ellzey (R),
Gabe Evans (R),
Randy Feenstra (R),
Randy Fine (R),
Brad Finstad (R),
Michelle Fischbach (R),
Scott Fitzgerald (R),
Mike Flood (R),
Scott Franklin (R),
Russell Fry (R),
Russ Fulcher (R),
Andrew Garbarino (R),
Chuy García (D),
Laura Gillen (D),
Carlos Giménez (R),
Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (D),
Craig Goldman (R),
Lance Gooden (R),
Paul Gosar (R),
Adam Gray (D),
Glenn Grothman (R),
Brett Guthrie (R),
Harriet Hageman (R),
Abraham Hamadeh (R),
Josh Harder (D),
Mike Haridopolos (R),
Pat Harrigan (R),
Andy Harris (R),
Ashley Hinson (R),
Chrissy Houlahan (D),
Wesley Hunt (R),
Jeff Hurd (R),
Ronny Jackson (R),
Marcy Kaptur (D),
Tom Kean (R),
Jen Kiggans (R),
Young Kim (R),
Brad Knott (R),
Nick LaLota (R),
Greg Landsman (D),
Bob Latta (R),
Mike Lawler (R),
Laurel Lee (R),
Susie Lee (D),
Ted Lieu (D),
Barry Loudermilk (R),
Anna Luna (R),
Morgan Luttrell (R),
Nancy Mace (R),
Ryan Mackenzie (R),
Nicole Malliotakis (R),
Tracey Mann (R),
John Mannion (D),
Brian Mast (R),
Doris Matsui (D),
Sarah McBride (D),
Michael McCaul (R),
Richard McCormick (R),
Kristen McDonald Rivet (D),
Addison McDowell (R),
John McGuire (R),
Grace Meng (D),
Mark Messmer (R),
Max Miller (R),
John Moolenaar (R),
Barry Moore (R),
Riley Moore (R),
Seth Moulton (D),
Jim Moylan (R),
Jerry Nadler (D),
Joe Neguse (D),
Troy Nehls (R),
Dan Newhouse (R),
Jay Obernolte (R),
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D),
Ilhan Omar (D),
Burgess Owens (R),
Jimmy Panetta (D),
Jimmy Patronis (R),
Brittany Pettersen (D),
August Pfluger (R),
Mark Pocan (D),
Mike Quigley (D),
Amata Radewagen (R),
Guy Reschenthaler (R),
Josh Riley (D),
John Rose (R),
Deborah Ross (D),
Raul Ruiz (D),
María Salazar (R),
Derek Schmidt (R),
Brad Schneider (D),
Keith Self (R),
Terri Sewell (D),
Adrian Smith (R),
Pete Stauber (R),
Elise Stefanik (R),
Bryan Steil (R),
Marilyn Strickland (D),
Dale Strong (R),
Suhas Subramanyam (D),
Tom Suozzi (D),
David Taylor (R),
Claudia Tenney (R),
G.T. Thompson (R),
Mike Thompson (D),
Tom Tiffany (R),
Dina Titus (D),
Jill Tokuda (D),
Paul Tonko (D),
Ritchie Torres (D),
Mike Turner (R),
Beth Van Duyne (R),
Derrick Van Orden (R),
Marc Veasey (D),
Eugene Vindman (D),
George Whitesides (D),
Tony Wied (R),
Roger Williams (R),
Frederica Wilson (D),
Joe Wilson (R),
Rob Wittman (R),
Steve Womack (R),
Last Action
Subcommittee Hearings Held (on 06/30/2026)
Bill Topics
Defense
- ‐ Veterans Affairs
Health
- ‐ Regulation of Doctors and Health Facilities
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4398/all-info | 07/16/2025 |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr4398/BILLS-119hr4398ih.pdf | 07/24/2025 |
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