Bill · H.R. 4398· House(119-HR-4398)
Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act
- Introduced
- 7/15/2025
- Last activity
- 6/30/2026 — Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Sponsored by
- Tom Emmer
- Cosponsors
- - 101 - 56
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act," aims to prevent delays in certifying the deaths of veterans. It requires a VA-employed physician or nurse practitioner who is a primary care provider to certify a death from natural causes within 48 hours of learning about it. If they cannot meet this timeline, a local coroner or medical examiner may certify the death instead. The Act also requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congressional committees regarding compliance and any instances where the 48-hour window was not met.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+9
Directly benefits veterans and their families by accelerating burial and benefits processes.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+7
Ensures survivors can access benefits more quickly by eliminating delays in death certificate certification.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+6
Many veterans are seniors, and this ensures their deaths are certified timely for burial.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Timely Burials and Benefits: By requiring certification within 48 hours, the bill seeks to prevent delays that currently prevent the timely burial of deceased veterans and access to survivor benefits (Section 2).
-
Accountability for VA Providers: The bill mandates that a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must certify the death of a veteran who dies of natural causes within 48 hours of learning of the death (Section 3(a)(1)).
-
Alternative Certification Options: To ensure the process continues even when VA providers cannot meet the deadline, the bill allows a coroner or medical examiner in the jurisdiction where the death occurred to certify the death (Section 3(a)(2)).
-
Congressional Oversight: The Secretary is required to submit annual reports to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs, including the percentage of compliance and the most common reasons for non-compliance, which helps monitor how well the law is being followed (Section 3(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+9Good For Retirees+6Good For Seniors+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5Increases Federal Power+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- Healthcare
- Improves Veterans Healthcare+3
- 9/14/2026
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- 9/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/31/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 8/20/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 8/17/2026
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- 7/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/30/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 6/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/18/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/26/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/21/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/11/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/3/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 12/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/20/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/19/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/17/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 11/4/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 10/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/17/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 10/10/2025
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- 9/30/2025
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 9/26/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/11/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/3/2025
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 9/2/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 8/26/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 8/8/2025
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- 7/29/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/22/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2025
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 7/17/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/16/2025
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 7/15/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 49 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
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