GRAVE Act

This bill would let more military Reserve members qualify for a Department of Veterans Affairs headstone or grave marker. It covers people who served in a Reserve unit but aren’t counted as “veterans” only because they didn’t meet the minimum active-duty time rule. Under the change, those Reserve members (and former members) could receive a VA headstone or grave marker when they pass away.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Members and former members of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces who didn’t meet the minimum active-duty service time.
• What changes: They become eligible for a VA headstone or grave marker.
• When: The bill adds this eligibility to federal law; no specific effective date is noted in the text provided.