S. 2951 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2951 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 20, 2014Mr. Heller introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is informed of the interment of deceased veterans, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Dignified Burial Act. 2. Information concerning scheduled interments of veterans (a) In general Chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 2415. Information concerning scheduled interments (a) Scheduled interment (1) At the same time that the Secretary confirms to a covered entity the veteran status of a deceased veteran in the custody of the covered entity, the Secretary shall request from the covered entity the specific date of the scheduled interment of the deceased veteran. (2) During each 30-day period following the date of a request made under paragraph (1) concerning a deceased veteran, the Secretary shall repeat such request until the date on which the covered entity confirms to the Secretary that the deceased veteran has been interred. (b) Annual report (1) Not later than January 31 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on deceased veterans who were interred after the 30-day period following the date on which the Secretary made a request under subsection (a). (2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) During the year prior to the year in which the report is submitted, the number of deceased veterans who were not interred during the period described in paragraph (1), including the covered entity that had custody of each deceased veteran. (B) The number of such deceased veterans who, as of the date of the report, are not yet interred, including the covered entity that has custody of each deceased veteran. (c) Covered entity defined In this section, the term covered entity means a local medical examiner, funeral director, county service group, or other similar entity. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2414 the following new item: 2415. Information concerning scheduled interments. .