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H.R.3211 / 105th Congress

Arlington National Cemetery Burial Eligibility Act

Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 12, 1998

Allows the remains of the following persons to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery: (1) any member of the armed forces who dies while on active duty; (2) any retired member; (3) any former member who was separated for physical disability before October 1, 1949, who served on active duty, and who would have been eligible for disability retirement if such provisions had been in effect on such date; (4) any former member whose last active military service was terminated honorably and who has been awarded one of a number of specified military decorations; (5) any former prisoner of war who served honorably while such a prisoner, whose last active military service terminated honorably, and who died on or after November 30, 1993; (6) the President or any former President; (7) the spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, and, in the discretion of the Cemetery's Superintendent, unmarried adult child of an interred member (but only if buried in the same gravesite); (8) the spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, and unmarried adult child (again, discretionary) of a member buried as part of a group burial (but cannot be buried in the group gravesite); (9) the spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of any person already buried in the Cemetery; (10) the widow or widower of a member who was lost or buried at sea or officially determined to be permanently absent in a missing or missing in action status; and (11) the parents of a minor child or unmarried adult child whose remains, based on the parent's eligibility, are already buried in the Cemetery. Makes such burial eligibility the exclusive eligibility for Cemetery burial. Prohibits the Secretary of the Army or any other responsible official from considering a request for Cemetery burial made before the death of the individual. Allows gravesite markers to be provided by the Secretary or at private expense, as long as certain marker and marker maintenance conditions are met. Directs the Secretary to maintain for the public a register of each individual buried in the Cemetery which shall include, for each individual buried there on or after January 1, 1998, a brief description of his or her eligibility for such burial. Requires the Secretary to publish an updated pamphlet describing Cemetery burial eligibility. Authorizes the cremated remains of the following persons to be placed in the Cemetery columbarium: (1) a person eligible for burial under this Act; (2) a veteran whose last period of active duty ended honorably; and (3) the spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child (discretionary) of such a veteran. Prohibits a memorial or marker: (1) from being placed in the Cemetery unless it commemorates the service of the individual or group whose memory is to be honored by such memorial or marker; or (2) that refers to a particular military event from being placed in the Cemetery until 25 years after such event.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Stump, Bob [R-AZ-3] · R–AZ

Committees

  • Veterans' Affairs Committee
  • Veterans' Affairs Committee
91 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.

  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 0 (Roll No. 65).

    House roll call 65 · Individual votes
  4. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 0 (Roll No. 65).

    House roll call 65 · Individual votes
  5. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1407)

  6. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  7. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

  8. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1389-1395)

  9. Mr. Stump moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  10. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 264.

  11. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 105-458.

  12. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 105-458.

  13. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  14. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  15. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  16. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  17. Subcommittee Hearings Held.

  18. Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.

  19. Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  20. Introduced in House

  21. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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