S 4949 United States Senate · 117th Congress

National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022

Summary
National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022 This act addresses the administration and jurisdiction of national cemeteries. Specifically, the act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay a plot or interment allowance for a veteran if the veteran was buried before March 15, 2022, in a cemetery on trust land owned by, or held in trust for, a tribal organization, and the organization that maintains or operates the cemetery applies for such allowance. Such allowance is only authorized if a plot or interment allowance was not already paid for the burial of such veteran. The act also authorizes the VA to designate green burial sections in national cemeteries (i.e., sections of cemeteries in which the remains of individuals have been prepared for interment in a manner not involving chemicals or embalming fluids and have been interred in a natural manner or completely biodegradable burial receptacle). The act authorizes the Department of the Army to transfer certain lands to the VA to expand the Fort Bliss National Cemetery. In addition, the act authorizes the Department of the Interior to transfer certain land to the VA for the land to be used as a national cemetery. Finally, the act prohibits persons who have committed certain crimes from being interred or memorialized in a cemetery in the National Cemetery Administration or in Arlington National Cemetery.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2022
Committee Review
Dec 2022
Senate Passage
Dec 2022
House Passage
Dec 2022
Signed into Law
Jan 2023
Introduced Sep 27, 2022 Signed Jan 5, 2023
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Jan 5, 2023
Signed into law
Signed by President.
executive
Dec 22, 2022
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H10038-10039)
lower
Dec 19, 2022
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7303-7304; text: CR S7303-7304)
upper
Dec 19, 2022
Upper · Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7303-7304; text: CR S7303-7304)
upper
Dec 19, 2022
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
upper
Sep 27, 2022
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
upper
Sep 27, 2022
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors