A bill to address the ineligibility of Ashli Babbitt for military funeral honors.
- Bill Number
- S. 4126
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-18: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 361.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-31T20:35:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (S. 4126) aims to explicitly declare Ashli Babbitt ineligible for military funeral honors due to her involvement in the January 6, 2021, events at the U.S. Capitol, which the bill describes as an insurrection.
Key Provisions
- Ineligibility Declaration: Ashli Babbitt is deemed ineligible for military funeral honors under section 985 of title 10, United States Code (which governs honors for eligible veterans).
- Basis for Ineligibility: The bill cites her specific actions on January 6, 2021, including participating in the insurrection and crawling through a broken window of a barricaded door leading to the House Speaker's Lobby.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Current law (10 U.S.C. § 985) generally provides military funeral honors—such as flag folding, rifle salutes, and bugler performances—for honorably discharged veterans who served on active duty. This bill introduces a targeted exception by naming and disqualifying one specific individual based on post-service conduct, which is not a standard criterion in existing eligibility rules.
Potential Impacts
- On Individuals: Babbitt's family or estate would be denied access to these ceremonial honors at her funeral, potentially affecting personal or communal remembrance.
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Defense (DoD) and military branches would be required to enforce this specific ineligibility, possibly leading to updated guidance or administrative processes to handle similar cases.
- On Citizens: It may influence public perceptions of veteran honors, emphasizing accountability for actions after military service, but could also spark debates on equity in how veterans are treated posthumously.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic matter focused on U.S. military traditions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Ashli Babbitt's Family and Supporters: Directly impacted by the denial of honors.
- Department of Defense and Military Personnel: Responsible for implementing and providing funeral honors, now with a specific restriction.
- Veterans' Organizations: Could be affected if this sets a precedent for evaluating post-service behavior in eligibility decisions.
- Congress and Political Figures: Involved in the bill's passage, with potential broader effects on discussions about the January 6 events.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: This could raise questions about whether singling out an individual violates due process or equal protection principles under the Constitution, as laws typically apply generally rather than targeting specific people.
- Constitutional: Potential concerns over resembling a "bill of attainder" (a law punishing a named person without trial, prohibited by Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution).
- Political: The bill is highly specific to a controversial figure from the January 6, 2021, Capitol events, which may intensify partisan divides in Congress and public discourse on accountability for political violence versus veteran recognition.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-18: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 361.
- 2026-03-17: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- 2026-03-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To address the ineligibility of Ashli Babbitt for military funeral honors. — issued 2026-03-18 — PDF (4 pages)