Hearing of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs - Opening Statement of Rep. Chris Pappas, Hearing on Legislation to Honor Guard and Reserve Members

Hearing

Today the House Veterans' Affairs Committee considered two pieces of legislation introduced by Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), who serves as the Chair of Oversight and Investigations, to better support and honor all of our service members.

The first piece of legislation expands eligibility for state veterans cemeteries to allow for the interring of many Guard members and Reservists who are currently excluded from burial at these cemeteries. This legislation honors their service to our nation by allowing state cemeteries to decide whether to inter an honorably discharged Guard member, Reservist, or their spouse, without jeopardizing federal grant money.

The second piece of legislation will support LGBTQ veterans by amending the VA's definition of "minority group member" to explicitly include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Veterans. This legislation would authorize the VA's Center for Minority Veterans (CMV) to include these Veterans in their mission. This action will help LGBTQ veterans who face unique barriers to accessing care and benefits due to long term implications of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

You can read Congressman Pappas's remarks as prepared below:

I'm pleased that two of my bills are being considered today.

The first, H.R. 3582, would be a much needed step towards equality by amending VA's definition of a "minority group member" to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans.

The VA's Center for Minority Veterans was established in 1994 to ensure that all veterans receive equal access to services and benefits regardless of their race, origin, religion, or gender. They conduct targeted outreach promoting VA benefits to minorities, establish and improve VA programs for the specific needs of minorities, and receive and assess complaints of minority veterans.

Unfortunately, the Center for Minority Veterans was established during the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" era, and the definition of a "minority group member" did not include any reference to LGBT veterans.

While VA does certainly provide service and conduct outreach to these veterans, they do not have an official "home" in VA policy. This bill would right that wrong, and I was pleased to see that VA does not object to this legislation.

My second bill, the bipartisan Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2020, does exactly what the title indicates. It ensures that the honorably-discharged men and women of our National Guard and Reserve components can be laid to rest in State veteran's cemeteries.

Under current law, in order to be buried in a cemetery under the control of the VA's National Cemetery Administration (NCA), a veteran must meet certain requirements. Broadly speaking, they must receive an other-than-dishonorable discharge, and serve at least one complete period of active duty.

Members of the National Guard and Reserve who don't serve on active duty can also meet the requirement by serving for at least 20 years.

For many members of the Guard and Reserve, this effectively bars them from being buried in cemeteries under the control of the NCA. Though these men and women took the same oath as their active duty counterparts, and were prepared to sacrifice their lives if called upon, they are denied the honor of being considered a veteran when they pass away and being laid to rest next to their brothers and sisters in arms.\

Fortunately, most states own and operate their own State veterans cemeteries, and can determine their own policies about who qualifies for interment.

Unfortunately, as soon as these State veterans cemeteries accept grant money from NCA - which most do - they have to abide by NCA's policy and definition on who qualifies as a veteran.

My bill doesn't force VA to modify their policy on interment in their own cemeteries.

Nor does it force State veterans cemeteries to inter anyone they don't choose to.

It simply says that if a State veterans cemetery chooses to inter an honorably-discharged member of the Guard or Reserve, or their spouse, their federal grant money can't be withheld for that reason.

This bill was developed in consultation with National Guard leaders and veterans in my home state of New Hampshire, and I believe it is a very easy way to show the men and women of our Guards and Reserves how much we value their service.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.

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