Bill > S695

This bill, titled the Dignified Interment of Our Veterans Act of 2015, requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a comprehensive study on the issue of unclaimed veteran remains and report their findings to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment. The study will investigate the extent of the problem, including an estimated number of unclaimed veteran remains, and evaluate the effectiveness of current VA procedures for working with entities that have custody of these remains to ensure their interment in national cemeteries managed by the National Cemetery Administration. Additionally, the study will examine state and local laws that might hinder the VA's ability to inter unclaimed veterans' remains and will conclude with recommendations for any necessary legislative or administrative changes. To conduct the study efficiently, the Secretary is permitted to review a representative sample of relevant entities, such as funeral homes and coroner offices, and a sample of state and local laws, rather than needing to review every single one.