Kennedy’s Honoring Our Heroes Act Passes the House of Representatives

Legislation to Guarantee Burial Honors for U.S. Veterans Received Strong Bipartisan Support

Bill Now Heads to the Senate for Consideration

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives has passed Congressman Tim Kennedy's legislation, H.R. 2721, the Honoring Our Heroes Act. If enacted into law, this legislation would correct a long-standing inequity in how the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes veterans who have passed away. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for final passage.

(Congressman Kennedy's remarks here.)

"As Members of Congress, we have a moral obligation to fully honor the heroes who fought for this country," said Congressman Kennedy. "The families left behind are simply asking our government to properly recognize the bravery and dedication of their loved ones - Americans who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we all hold dear."

Under current federal law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not provide government-issued headstones for veterans who died before November 1, 1990, leaving their families unable to secure this honor for their loved ones. Kennedy's legislation establishes a seven-year pilot program to allow eligible family members to request a VA headstone for veterans who died on or after December 7, 1941, when America entered World War II, provided they have not already received a marker, medallion, or headstone.

For decades, loved ones of veterans who served their country honorably have faced the painful reality of being denied this final recognition because of an arbitrary cutoff date. By expanding eligibility, the Honoring Our Heroes Act ensures that families will now have the opportunity to see their relatives remembered with the same dignity and respect as their fellow veterans.

Passage of the bill marks an important step toward fairness for military families in Western New York and nationwide. It guarantees that service is honored consistently, regardless of when a veteran passed away, and it gives families the chance to properly memorialize those who answered the call to serve. For the thousands of families who have waited years for this recognition, this legislation represents not just policy change, but a long-overdue acknowledgment of sacrifice and service.

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Legislation to Guarantee Burial Honors for U.S. Veterans Received Strong Bipartisan Support

Bill Now Heads to the Senate for Consideration

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives has passed Congressman Tim Kennedy's legislation, H.R. 2721, the Honoring Our Heroes Act. If enacted into law, this legislation would correct a long-standing inequity in how the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes veterans who have passed away. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for final passage.

(Congressman Kennedy's remarks here.)

"As Members of Congress, we have a moral obligation to fully honor the heroes who fought for this country," said Congressman Kennedy. "The families left behind are simply asking our government to properly recognize the bravery and dedication of their loved ones - Americans who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we all hold dear."

Under current federal law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not provide government-issued headstones for veterans who died before November 1, 1990, leaving their families unable to secure this honor for their loved ones. Kennedy's legislation establishes a seven-year pilot program to allow eligible family members to request a VA headstone for veterans who died on or after December 7, 1941, when America entered World War II, provided they have not already received a marker, medallion, or headstone.

For decades, loved ones of veterans who served their country honorably have faced the painful reality of being denied this final recognition because of an arbitrary cutoff date. By expanding eligibility, the Honoring Our Heroes Act ensures that families will now have the opportunity to see their relatives remembered with the same dignity and respect as their fellow veterans.

Passage of the bill marks an important step toward fairness for military families in Western New York and nationwide. It guarantees that service is honored consistently, regardless of when a veteran passed away, and it gives families the chance to properly memorialize those who answered the call to serve. For the thousands of families who have waited years for this recognition, this legislation represents not just policy change, but a long-overdue acknowledgment of sacrifice and service.

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