Gerald’s Law Act
HR 7199, the Gerald’s Law Act, expands burial benefits for veterans who die at home while receiving VA hospice care. It adds a new eligibility category allowing burial allowances for veterans who were in VA hospice care at home *only if* they previously received VA hospital or nursing home care. The bill amends existing law to include this scenario under the veterans' burial allowance program. This change directly affects veterans receiving VA hospice care at home after prior VA facility-based care, ensuring they qualify for burial benefits similar to those who die in VA facilities. The policy change takes effect as if included in the 2020 Veterans Health Care Act.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jan 22, 2026
Last action Jan 22, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 14 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jack Bergman
RRepublican
Co
Brian J. Mast
RRepublican
Co
Brittany Pettersen
DDemocratic
Co
Don Bacon
RRepublican
Co
James R. Baird
RRepublican
Co
Jared F. Golden
DDemocratic
Co
Jefferson Van Drew
RRepublican
Co
Joe Neguse
DDemocratic
Co
Josh Gottheimer
DDemocratic
Co
Keith Self
RRepublican
Co
Nicole Malliotakis
RRepublican
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