Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Reform Veterans' Burial Policy in National Cemeteries

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono, John Cornyn, Lisa Murkowski, John Fetterman, Rick Scott, and Adam Schiff have introduced the Restoring the Sanctity of Public Entombments, Cemeteries, and Tributes (RESPECT) Act, a bipartisan effort to reform veterans' burial policy in national cemeteries. The legislation aims to address discrepancies in the current law, which often leads to delays and inequities in the disinterment process. Specifically, the bill would grant the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) retroactive authority to reconsider burial eligibility determinations dating back to June 18, 1973.

Key Takeaways:

  • The RESPECT Act would extend the VA's retroactive authority to reconsider burial eligibility determinations dating back to June 18, 1973, covering cases that previously required a specific act of Congress.
  • Under current law, the VA can only reconsider eligibility determinations for cases dating back to 2013, creating unnecessary delays and inequities for families and victims' advocates seeking disinterment of individuals who committed serious crimes.
  • There are currently at least seven outstanding disinterment petitions across multiple states, including Hawaii, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Florida, and California, highlighting the need for this legislation.
  • The bill specifically addresses the case of Dr. Robert Browne, a former psychiatrist accused of sexually assaulting Kamehameha Schools students, who was buried at Punchbowl Cemetery despite his alleged crimes.
  • The RESPECT Act would also correct statutory language to avoid constitutional challenges regarding tier III sex offender classification and repeal a duplicative provision of the Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act.

Statistics:

  • The legislation would grant the VA retroactive authority to reconsider burial eligibility determinations dating back to 1973, covering approximately 49 years of unresolved cases.
  • Under current law, the VA has only reconsidered eligibility determinations for cases dating back to 2013, leaving a significant gap in the processing of disinterment requests.
  • There are at least 7 outstanding disinterment petitions across multiple states, highlighting the need for this legislation to address the issue.

Sources:

  • Senator Mazie K. Hirono's press release, [available on the Senate's website](https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-introduce-legislation-to-reform-veterans-burial-policy)
  • The National Cemetery Administration, [available on the VA's website](https://www.cem.va.gov/)