July 30, 2014
Portman, Tester Introduce VA Headstone Bill to Honor our Nation's Veterans

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced bipartisan legislation, The Honor Those Who Served Act of 2014, expanding the definition of persons eligible to request headstones or markers furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for unmarked graves for our nation’s veterans.

“America’s veterans have made uncountable sacrifices on behalf of all of us,” said Portman. “This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense way to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform throughout our nation’s history with the official recognition they have earned and deserve.”

“The tremendous sacrifices of America’s veterans should be honored in life and death,” said Tester, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “This change makes sure more veterans get the ever-lasting respect they earned, and I appreciate working with Senator Portman and veterans’ organizations on this issue.”

“Fixing this headstones policy is very important to veterans groups, history organizations, county veterans organizations, genealogists, funeral professionals, high school teachers and others in Ohio and elsewhere,” said Todd Kleismit, director of community and government relations at the Ohio History Connection. “Prior to the VA’s policy change, organizations like ours had been working diligently to research and recognize military veterans buried in unmarked graves. We hope that this legislation can help us get back to that important work that has been postponed now for the past couple of years.”

Prior to May 2012, veterans’ organizations, history-related organizations, and those in the funerary profession who conducted extensive research on Americans who fought and died for our country were able to request headstones for unmarked graves that they determined to be of veterans.

In May 2012, however, the VA began enforcing its “next of kin” policy which prohibits these groups and individuals from requesting headstones or markers for unmarked graves. In April 2013, the VA announced it would modify its policy, but has yet to establish a permanent solution.

Portman and Tester’s legislation broadens the definition of persons eligible to request headstones or markers to include State veterans service agencies, military researchers, local historians, or genealogists or other individuals familiar with the research sources and methods necessary to prove the identity of the decedent if no next-of-kin or designated representative of the decedent can be identified. If a deceased veteran served on active duty in the Armed Forces at least 75 years before the date on which the head stone or marker is requested, any individual can request a headstone.

U.S. Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH-15), along with Reps. Tiberi (R-OH-12) and Beatty (D-OH-3) introduced, H.R. 2018, the Honor Those Who Serve Act of 2013, in the House of Representatives.
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