Pappas's Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act Signed into Law

Statement

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas's (NH-01) Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act was signed into law by President Biden as part of the Omnibus funding package.

"It's unimaginable that members of the National Guard and Reserves who swore the same oath as their active duty counterparts have been denied the honor of being laid to rest next to their brothers and sisters in arms," said Congressman Pappas. "I've worked closely with leaders of the New Hampshire National Guard and our New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery on this common sense, bipartisan policy change, and I'm pleased that this legislation is finally law. This change guarantees long overdue equity for members of the Guard and Reserves."

In order to be buried in a cemetery under the control of VA's National Cemetery Administration (NCA), a veteran must meet certain requirements. Prior to the signing of this law, in order to receive federal grant money from VA for improvements, state veterans cemeteries were barred from interring many National Guard members and Reservists due to rules requiring active service.

Pappas's legislation modified existing law to allow state cemeteries, including New Hampshire's Veterans Cemetery, to decide whether to inter an other than dishonorably discharged Guard member, Reservist, or their spouse or children, without jeopardizing their eligibility for federal grant funding

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