Sen. Cramer, Bipartisan Colleagues Urge VA to Open Eligibility for Burial in State Veterans Cemeteries to All Service Members

Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) on a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers in a letter today calling on the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to implement reforms to the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program. The letter requests that all members of Reserve Components and the National Guard be granted eligibility for burial in state veterans’ cemeteries, so long as their service was terminated under honorable conditions.

“Dozens of commentators, including leaders of state veterans’ cemeteries from across the country, indicated they support efforts to expand eligibility for burial in a state veterans’ cemetery to additional members of the National Guard and Reserve Components,” wrote the lawmakers. “Leadership of the National Guard and state veterans’ cemeteries in our states have indicated that they strongly support this change in eligibility to ensure that those who served receive the proper burial that they deserve. We have also heard from constituents who served in the National Guard and Reserve components and believe that existing restrictions on the Department’s grant program fail to acknowledge their contributions in service of our nation.

“National Guardsmen and Reservists swear to defend this country just as their Active Duty counterparts do, and we must make sure that they receive the respect and recognition that they deserve,” the members continued.

The lawmakers concluded by requesting the VA consider these reforms to expand the eligibility for the Department’s Veterans Cemetery Grants Program as they review information gathered throughout its Request For Information process.

The letter continues Senator Cramer’s push to secure burial equality for members of Reserve components and the National Guard. In June, Senators Cramer and Shaheen introduced the Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act, legislation to prohibit the VA from conditioning such grants on a cemetery’s compliance with existing eligibility criteria for burial.

Senators Cramer, Shaheen, and Hassan are joined on the letter by Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) and Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02).