Bertie’s Respect for National Cemeteries Act

This bill tightens rules to keep people who committed capital crimes from being buried or honored in national cemeteries, including Arlington. It tells federal officials to take “every reasonable action,” like checking public records, to make sure anyone set to be buried is eligible. It also orders the Department of Veterans Affairs to remove the remains of George E. Siple from Indiantown Gap National Cemetery and to return them to his family or handle them appropriately if family is unavailable .

Key points:

• Who is affected: Families of veterans, the VA, and national cemeteries like Arlington.
• What changes: Stronger checks before burial to block those who committed capital crimes; required disinterment of George E. Siple with notice to next-of-kin .
• Why it matters: Aims to protect the honor of national cemeteries by ensuring only eligible individuals are interred or memorialized there.