H.R. 6032: Headstones for Honor Act

This bill, titled the Headstones for Honor Act, aims to amend current laws regarding the provision of headstones, markers, and medallions for graves of specific individuals who performed military functions but were previously barred from serving in the Armed Forces due to race, gender, or other discriminatory factors.

Eligibility for Headstones and Markers

The bill expands the eligibility criteria for these military commemorations to include:

• Enslaved Individuals: Those who accompanied Armed Forces members or Civil War veterans during their active service or who served in lieu of another person.
• Individuals Performing Military Functions: Those who were prohibited from serving due to federal, state, or tribal laws based on race, gender, sex, or ethnicity.

Changes to Existing Law

Specific amendments to Section 2306 of Title 38, United States Code, include:

• Adding "Navies" to work alongside "Armies" in recognition of various military branches.
• Redefining who can request headstones for enslaved individuals and those who performed military functions, limiting requests to direct descendants or individuals who have sought consent from such descendants.

Headstone Inscriptions

For individuals who served in the Confederate Army, their headstone, marker, or medallion must include language stating they were forced to support their own enslavement.

Implementation Regulations

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to establish regulations within one year of the bill's enactment, which will include:

• Consultation with historians, civil rights organizations, and direct descendants.
• Defining "military function" for determining eligibility.
• Identifying acceptable evidence for validating claims, including various historical records, pay records, and personal documents.

Effective Date and Reporting

The provisions in this bill will take effect when the regulations are outlined or one year after the bill's enactment, whichever comes first. Additionally, a report on the implementation will be submitted to Congress 15 months after the law’s enactment.

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