Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act
Sponsored By: Representative Emmer
In Committee
Summary
48-hour certification deadline for VA clinicians to sign death certificates for veterans who die of natural causes, plus annual reports tracking compliance and reasons for delays. The bill aims to reduce long waits that block burials and survivor benefits.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster death certificates for veterans
This bill would require a VA doctor or nurse practitioner who was the veteran’s primary care provider to sign the death certificate within 48 hours after learning the veteran died of natural causes. If the VA provider could not meet the 48-hour window, the local coroner or medical examiner could sign instead. The VA would have to report to Congress one year after enactment and every year after on compliance: the share that met 48 hours, the number that did not, and the most common reasons. If passed, this could speed burials and help survivors start benefits and claims sooner.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Emmer
MN • R
Cosponsors
Reschenthaler
PA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Garbarino
NY • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
DesJarlais
TN • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Latta
OH • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Malliotakis
NY • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Self
TX • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Womack
AR • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Alford
MO • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Aderholt
AL • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Van Orden
WI • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Taylor
OH • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Fulcher
ID • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Crenshaw
TX • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Newhouse
WA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Patronis
FL • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Mackenzie
PA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Finstad
MN • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Owens
UT • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Calvert
CA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Fry
SC • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Gooden
TX • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Wied
WI • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Williams (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
GU • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Rose
TN • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Strong
AL • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Guthrie
KY • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Steil
WI • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Moolenaar
MI • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Feenstra
IA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Fischbach
MN • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Tiffany
WI • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Van Duyne
TX • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Flood
NE • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Moore (WV)
WV • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Hamadeh (AZ)
AZ • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Mast
FL • R
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Cole
OK • R
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Goldman (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Fine
FL • R
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Suozzi
NY • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Crawford
AR • R
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Mann
KS • R
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Carter (GA)
GA • R
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Hurd (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Wittman
VA • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Gray
CA • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Wilson (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Crane
AZ • R
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Thompson (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Obernolte
CA • R
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Brown
OH • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Balint
VT • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Hageman
WY • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Moore (AL)
AL • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Lee (NV)
NV • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Lee (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Harrigan
NC • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Smith (NE)
NE • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Grothman
WI • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Knott
NC • R
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Luna
FL • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Hinson
IA • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Hunt
TX • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Biggs (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Stefanik
NY • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Turner (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Loudermilk
GA • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Miller (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Barrett
MI • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Carey
OH • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Gillen
NY • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Evans (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Messmer
IN • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Perez
WA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Harris (MD)
MD • R
Sponsored 10/24/2025
McCormick
GA • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Cline
VA • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Fitzgerald
WI • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Whitesides
CA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
McCaul
TX • R
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
McDonald Rivet
MI • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Mace
SC • R
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large]
AS • R
Sponsored 1/21/2026
Franklin, Scott
FL • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Begich
AK • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govRelated Bills
HR1422 — Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025
Targets Iran's energy revenue through global sanctions. This bill would create a broad sanctions framework to punish foreign persons who process, export, or sell Iran-origin oil, condensates, gas, LNG, or petrochemical products. It pairs blocking of assets and visa bans with ownership-based triggers, waivers, humanitarian carve-outs, and new reporting to limit Iran's access to energy markets and finance for weapons and terrorism. - Foreign energy firms and financial institutions would face blocking of property and bans on transactions if they knowingly handle Iran-origin energy or are 50% or more owned by such actors. Associated aliens could become inadmissible and have visas revoked. - Maritime operators, insurers, flag registries, and LNG pipeline facilities would be exposed to sanctions risk when linked to Iran-origin shipments, though safety-of-crew rules and specific exemptions for imports remain. - Humanitarian organizations would keep explicit exemptions for agricultural commodities, food, medicine, medical devices, and humanitarian assistance to avoid disrupting aid. - U.S. agencies and private companies would see new duties: an interagency working group and multilateral contact group would coordinate enforcement, and private-sector reporting would be required to flag evasion and proceeds from intercepted Iran-origin energy sales.
HR979 — AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025
This bill would require AM broadcast capability to be installed as standard equipment in passenger motor vehicles. It focuses on driver-accessible AM reception, allows digital AM audio to count for compliance, and links vehicle AM capability to emergency alerting through IPAWS. - Drivers and households: Built-in, driver-accessible AM reception would make it easier for people to get local AM stations and emergency alerts from their vehicles. The bill allows devices that receive digital AM to meet the requirement. - Vehicle manufacturers: The Department of Transportation would need to issue a rule within 1 year, with a general compliance deadline no later than 2 years after the rule is issued. Small manufacturers that produced no more than 40,000 passenger vehicles in 2022 would get at least 4 years to comply. - Oversight and emergency systems: States would be barred from imposing their own AM-access rules. The bill mandates interim labels and pricing protections for cars without AM, authorizes civil penalties and DOJ injunctions for violations, requires a GAO study and a congressional briefing within 1 year, and includes an 8-year sunset for the authority.
HR452 — Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act
This law awards Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team as a formal recognition of their Lake Placid victory and its lasting effect on American morale and the sport of hockey. It directs the Treasury to strike the medals and sets rules for duplicates, display, and funding. - Team legacy and public recognition: The Act honors the 1980 team with a symbolic national award that reinforces their historical and cultural significance for fans, players, and communities connected to the game. - Museum displays and research access: One gold medal goes to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, one to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in Eveleth, Minnesota, and one to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs for display and research. - Mint operations and collectibles: The Secretary of the Treasury will strike the medals, may sell bronze duplicates at prices that cover costs, and classifies the medals as national and numismatic items. The U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund pays for production and receives proceeds from duplicate sales.
HR1262 — Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
Speeds and strengthens pediatric cancer drug development. It expands which cancer products companies must study in children, reshapes organ transplant network governance and fees, and adds new FDA international and transparency steps. - Children with cancer and researchers: Requires pediatric studies that produce clinically meaningful data on dosing, safety, and early effectiveness and widens the kinds of drug combinations studied. It also sets aside $25 million for pediatric drug studies in each of fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028. - Transplant patients and transplant network members: Changes Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network governance and financing by allowing quarterly registration fees, requiring those fees fund OPTN operations, improving electronic health record integration, and calling for a GAO review within two years. - FDA partners and drug makers: Creates an Abraham Accords Office to boost regulatory coordination and technical assistance abroad, and forces more transparency during generic (ANDA) reviews about whether generics are qualitatively and quantitatively the same as listed drugs. It also raises the Medicare Improvement Fund amount from $1.4 billion to $2.6 billion. Increases federal outlays by roughly $1.3 billion, driven by a $1.2 billion boost to the Medicare Improvement Fund and $75 million for pediatric studies, adding to federal spending.
HR842 — Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
Would expand Medicare to cover multi-cancer early detection screening tests. It defines eligible tests as certain FDA-cleared or approved genomic blood tests or comparable biological-sample tests and directs the Secretary to use the national coverage determinations process to decide when they are covered.
HR909 — Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025
Would make the False Claims Act apply to deposits to the Crime Victims Fund through FY2029. It would also require an Inspector General audit that sets the audit's scope, timing, and recipients, and the measure is titled the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025. - Entities that make deposits to the Crime Victims Fund would be subject to the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3729–3731) for deposits from enactment through FY2029. - An Inspector General audit would examine the Crime Victims Fund and the bill would set the audit's scope, timing, and who receives the report.
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Create a free account to save research, track policy impacts, and unlock your personalized versions of these pages.
Already have an account? Sign in