WASHINGTON, DC – Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to ensure our military families can continue to be laid to rest together in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries has been signed into law.
Historically, in the tragic case of the spouse or child of an active duty servicemember predeceasing the servicemember, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has had the authority to bury that servicemembers’ spouse or child at a VA national cemetery – where the servicemember will one day join their family member. Unfortunately, those VA authorities were set to expire, meaning action was needed in Congress to further extend this benefit to our military families. Peters’ bipartisan Keeping Military Families Together Act – which he introduced with U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) – grants the VA authority to bury spouses and dependent children of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty at the time of their death. The bill also will give the VA continued authority to furnish a memorial headstone or marker, in cases where remains are unavailable, for spouses and dependent children of active duty servicemembers.
“Our servicemembers and military families make incredible sacrifices to protect our nation and our American way of life, and we must do everything we can to ensure they can remain together in their final resting place if that is what they wish," said Senator Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “This law will prevent this important program from lapsing and give the Department of Veterans Affairs authority for years to come to provide this crucial benefit to our military families.”
“We thank Senators Peters, Sullivan, Cramer, and Brown for leading this bipartisan bill and for their commitment to supporting our nation’s military families and servicemembers at every turn,” said Jack McManus, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). “Our brave men and women who served in uniform deserve the option to be buried alongside their families, including in the tragic case of a servicemembers’ family member predeceasing them. The Keeping Military Families Together Act protects that benefit.”
“One of the most widely requested benefits that our nation provides to those who have served are those concerning burial. This honor is a final display of our country’s appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our veterans,” said Michael McLaughlin, Legislative Director, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO). “Although there is no sunset of when a service member or veteran may receive this honor, there is, unfortunately, a shelf life for eligibility provided to loved ones for internment with their veteran in a national cemetery. Thank you, Senator Peters, for leading passage of this law, which will provide a continued and unified burial option for not only those who served our country, but also for their loved ones."
Senator Peters’ bill is also supported by the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
As the son of a World War II veteran and a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Peters is committed to advocating for Michigan’s servicemembers, veterans, and military families, and fighting to ensure they receive the resources and benefits they have earned, including burial benefits. Bipartisan legislation introduced by Peters was signed into law to expand Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) burial benefits eligibility to terminally ill veterans who pass away at a non-VA facility while receiving hospice care. The legislation, called Gerald’s Law Act, was named after late Michigan veteran Gerald “Jerry” Elliott of Kingsford who did not receive VA burial benefits since he passed away at home.
In 2022, Peters helped enact into law the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act – which delivered VA health care and benefits to all generations of toxic-exposed veterans – and their survivors – for the first time in our nation’s history. As of August 2024, nearly 43,000 veterans across Michigan have applied for the benefits made available under this law.
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