Locating Our Unclaimed Veterans Act

Section 2(a)(1): This provision requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a centralized system to store information on the unclaimed remains of veterans. This is positive because it helps organize information coming from coroners, State governments, and funeral homes to better keep track of these remains.

Section 2(a)(1)(B): This provision ensures that details such as the veteran's name, fingerprints, estimated age at death, and other necessary identifiers are stored when remains are in the Secretary's possession. This is beneficial as it helps make reasonable efforts to confirm a veteran's status and identify suitable next-of-kin.

Section 2(a)(2)(A): This provision directs the Secretary to request relevant information from the Social Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Defense using existing data-sharing memoranda of understanding. This is a positive step to utilize federal agency data in efforts to identify unclaimed remains.

Section 2(c): This provision requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs detailing implementation, outreach activities, and the total number of unclaimed remains successfully identified. This holds officials accountable by requiring them to show the public and Congress whether the program is actually working.