Sponsor
Michael R. Turner
Representative · R-OH
Requires the VA to accept a specific ~58-acre parcel from the Montgomery County Land Bank for Dayton National Cemetery within set timelines at no cost.
Representative · R-OH
The bill ensures a nearby national cemetery is delivered quickly and without local land acquisition costs—benefiting veterans and local taxpayers—but forces VA acceptance in ways that can divert VA funds and reduce agency discretion, raising risks of higher long‑term operational and environmental costs.
Veterans in the Montgomery County area will gain access to additional burial space because the VA is required to accept the 58-acre parcel and establish a national cemetery within three years.
Local taxpayers and county governments will not bear land acquisition costs because the Montgomery County Land Bank must transfer the parcel to the VA at no cost or consideration.
Veterans and local governments benefit from a clear, time-bound process (30‑day start, 3‑year completion) that reduces uncertainty and aims to speed delivery of cemetery services.
VA beneficiaries and taxpayers may face reduced VA service capacity because the VA will likely incur development and maintenance costs for the new cemetery paid from VA budgets, potentially diverting funds from other services.
Veterans and local governments could suffer higher long-term operational or environmental costs because mandating acceptance of a specific parcel limits the VA's discretion to assess suitability or negotiate different terms.
Local governments and taxpayers face environmental and remediation risk because the three-year acceptance deadline may pressure the VA to proceed before fully resolving site, zoning, or infrastructure issues, risking delays or extra costs later.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Official title: To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement with the Montgomery County Land Bank for the transfer of certain land near Dayton National Cemetery to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 14, 2025 by Michael R. Turner · Last progress March 14, 2025
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to accept a specific roughly 58-acre parcel in Dayton, Ohio, from the Montgomery County Land Bank at no cost and use it as part of the Dayton National Cemetery. The Secretary must begin an agreement within 30 days after the Land Bank offers the parcel and must accept the parcel for cemetery use no later than three years after the Land Bank’s offer. The requirement applies only to the named parcel and only to agreements with the Montgomery County Land Bank at the specified address.