To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6456
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-08T15:19:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 6456) aims to mandate the disinterment (removal from burial) of the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas, allowing for their relocation or alternative disposition at the request of his family.
Key Provisions
- Timeline for Action: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must complete the disinterment no later than one year after the bill becomes law.
- Notification Requirement: The Secretary cannot proceed with disinterment until notifying the next of kin (closest living relatives) of Fernando V. Cota.
- Disposition of Remains: After disinterment, the Secretary must either:
- Hand over the remains to the notified next of kin, or
- If no next of kin responds, arrange for an appropriate disposition as determined by the Secretary.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a specific, one-time exception to standard Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policies on handling burials in national cemeteries. Typically, disinterments from VA national cemeteries require family consent and follow strict protocols to honor veterans' final resting places; this legislation overrides general restrictions by directly requiring the action for this individual case without broader procedural hurdles.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will need to allocate resources for the disinterment process, including coordination, notification, and potential legal or logistical support, which could set a minor administrative precedent for similar future requests.
- On Citizens: Primarily affects the family of Fernando V. Cota by enabling them to relocate his remains, potentially fulfilling personal or cultural wishes; it has no broad impact on other citizens or veterans.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic matter involving a U.S. national cemetery.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Next of Kin of Fernando V. Cota: They receive priority for notification and control over the remains' final disposition.
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Responsible for executing the disinterment and handling any non-response scenarios.
- Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery: Operations may be temporarily disrupted during the process, affecting maintenance or visitor access.
- Congressional Sponsors: Representatives from Texas (Mr. Luttrell, Mr. Self, and Mr. Tony Gonzales) who introduced the bill, indicating local constituent interests.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a congressional mandate for a specific VA action, potentially challenging or supplementing existing VA regulations on cemetery integrity (e.g., under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 24, which governs national cemeteries). It emphasizes family rights in burial decisions but could raise questions about equitable treatment if similar requests arise without legislation.
- Constitutional: Aligns with due process by requiring family notification, avoiding arbitrary government action; no apparent conflicts with First Amendment or equal protection principles.
- Political: Reflects targeted advocacy for a local veteran or family issue in Texas, highlighting Congress's role in addressing individual grievances through private bills (a rare but established practice for unique cases like this). It may encourage similar legislation for other families seeking disinterments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (2 pages)