National Cemetery Administration Annual Report Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7260
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-14: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-28T19:35:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to increase transparency and congressional oversight of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) responsible for managing national cemeteries and related services for veterans. It mandates an annual report to detail NCA activities, helping ensure accountability in burial services, grants, and infrastructure for eligible veterans and their families.
Key Provisions
- Annual Reporting Requirement: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs starting one year after enactment and every year thereafter. The report covers the previous fiscal year's activities of the NCA.
- Report Contents:
- Total number of burials (interments), broken down by cemetery location, eligibility category (e.g., veterans, spouses, dependents as defined in existing law), and type (casketed or cremated remains).
- Assessment of customer satisfaction levels among users of NCA services.
- Maps of all national cemeteries managed by the NCA, plus state, county, or tribal veterans' cemeteries funded by VA grants.
- Descriptions of burial options available at each open national cemetery.
- Number of veterans buried in state, county, or tribal cemeteries receiving VA grants.
- Counts of items provided by the NCA, such as Presidential Memorial Certificates, headstones, markers, and medallions, categorized by eligibility and location.
- Summaries of completed major and minor construction projects at national cemeteries.
- Plans for upcoming major and minor construction projects in the next fiscal year.
- Number of burials for unclaimed veterans' remains, by cemetery.
- Details on grants awarded under specific VA laws, including recipient, amount, and intended use (e.g., for state or tribal cemetery operations and expansions).
- Any additional topics the Secretary deems relevant.
- Public Accessibility: Reports must be posted in digital format on a public VA website.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new section (2415) to Chapter 24 of Title 38, United States Code, which governs VA cemetery operations. This introduces a mandatory annual reporting obligation that did not previously exist.
- Includes a minor clerical update to the chapter's table of contents to reference the new section.
- No alterations to existing eligibility rules for burials, grants, or services; the change focuses solely on reporting for oversight.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will face an added administrative burden to compile and publish detailed data annually, potentially requiring new processes for data collection and analysis. This could improve internal tracking of NCA performance but may strain resources if not budgeted adequately.
- On Citizens: Veterans, their families, and the public gain greater access to information on burial services, satisfaction levels, and cemetery developments through public reports, aiding informed decisions about end-of-life options. It may indirectly enhance service quality via heightened scrutiny.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill pertains solely to domestic VA operations for U.S. veterans.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and NCA: Primary implementers responsible for preparing and submitting reports.
- Congress (House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees): Recipients of reports for oversight and potential future legislation.
- Veterans, Spouses, and Dependents: Eligible individuals who benefit from transparent data on burial options and services.
- State, County, and Tribal Governments: Operators of grant-funded cemeteries, as reports will track their usage and VA support.
- General Public: Through online access to reports, enabling broader awareness of veterans' cemetery programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens statutory requirements for VA accountability under Title 38 without creating new enforcement mechanisms or liabilities. It aligns with existing congressional authority to mandate agency reporting for oversight.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it supports the separation of powers by facilitating legislative review of executive branch activities, consistent with Article I's appropriations and oversight roles.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan support for veterans' issues by formalizing transparency in a non-controversial area. Could influence future funding debates for NCA infrastructure and grants, emphasizing data-driven decisions over political priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-14: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 2026-05-14: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-03-26: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 2026-03-26: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-02-03: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2026-01-30: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- 2026-01-27: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2026-01-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- National Cemetery Administration Annual Report Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-27 — PDF (5 pages)