Bill > HR6921

This bill, titled the Hawai‘i National Cemetery Act, mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish a new national cemetery in Hawai‘i to address the limited burial options for veterans and their families in the state. The bill highlights that Hawai‘i's only existing national cemetery, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, has been largely closed to casketed burials since 1991 and will cease accepting cremated remains by 2036, forcing residents to travel over 2,500 miles for burial in a national cemetery, which incurs significant financial and logistical burdens. To ensure equitable access to burial benefits, the Secretary must initiate the construction of a new cemetery, prioritizing locations near population centers, accessible by transportation, and with minimal environmental impact, while also consulting with the Governor of Hawai‘i and veterans' organizations. The bill requires the Secretary to submit a report identifying potential sites within one year of enactment and subsequent progress reports annually until the cemetery is operational, detailing all stages from site selection to construction completion. The "Secretary of Veterans Affairs" is the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, a U.S. government department responsible for providing services to veterans, and "national cemetery" refers to a cemetery established and maintained by the federal government for the burial of honorably discharged veterans and their eligible family members.

Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6921/all-info