H.R. 7260: National Cemetery Administration Annual Report Act of 2026

This bill, titled the National Cemetery Administration Annual Report Act of 2026, aims to enhance the oversight of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) by requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the NCA's activities. Here are the main components of the bill:

Annual Reporting Requirement

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is mandated to provide a report annually, starting one year after the bill's enactment. This report will be submitted to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of both the House and Senate.

Contents of the Report

The annual report must cover various aspects, including:

• Total Interments: The report must include the total number of remains interred in national cemeteries, categorized by:
  • The specific national cemetery where the interment occurred.
  • Categories of eligible persons as defined in the relevant legal statutes.
  • Types of remains, specifically casketed and cremated.
• Customer Satisfaction: An assessment of customer satisfaction with the services provided by the NCA.
• Cemetery Maps: A map of each national cemetery managed by the NCA and veterans' cemeteries that are state or county-owned or held in trust for tribal organizations.
• Burial Options: A description of burial options available at each national cemetery.
• State and County Cemeteries: Information on the number of veterans interred in state-owned or county-owned veterans’ cemeteries.
• Memorial Furnishings: The number of Presidential memorial certificates, headstones, burial markers, and medallions provided by the NCA, also categorized by cemetery location and eligible persons.
• Construction Projects: Summaries of completed major and minor construction projects in national cemeteries during the reported period, along with a description of planned projects for the upcoming fiscal year.
• Unclaimed Remains: The number of interments of unclaimed remains of veterans, broken down by cemetery.
• Grants Summary: Details of each grant made during the reported period, including the recipient, amount, and intended use of funds.
• Additional Matters: Any other relevant matters deemed appropriate by the Secretary.

Digital Accessibility

Each report must be made available in digital form on a public website of the Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring public access to the information.

Clerical Amendments

The bill also includes clerical amendments to the legal code, specifically adding a new section in the table of contents related to the annual report of the NCA.

Overall Impact

This bill is designed to improve transparency regarding the operations of the National Cemetery Administration, ensuring that Congress and the public have access to detailed information about cemetery activities, interments, and the administration of veterans' burial benefits.

Relevant Companies

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