Sponsor
Mazie Hirono
Senator · D-HI
Senator · D-HI
The bill would give Hawai‘i veterans closer access to federal burial benefits and produce local construction jobs while imposing notable federal costs, potential duplication of state services, and multi-year delays and local disruptions before benefits are realized.
Veterans in Hawai‘i will gain a nearby national cemetery with inground burial options, reducing travel and transportation burdens for families and improving access to federal burial benefits.
Residents and businesses in Hawai‘i will see increased jobs and local economic activity during planning, design, contracting, and construction of the cemetery.
Local communities will benefit from required environmental review and site selection designed to minimize environmental harm and reduce future remediation costs.
Taxpayers will face increased federal spending to establish and operate the cemetery, which could add to the deficit absent offsets.
Veterans and families may wait many years for benefits because long planning, NEPA review, and construction timelines can substantially delay the cemetery becoming operational.
State veterans' cemeteries and programs could see duplicated capacity or shifted attention/resources if a federal cemetery is established nearby.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires the VA Secretary to establish a new national cemetery in Hawai‘i, prioritize accessible low-impact sites, complete NEPA review, and report site options and progress to Congress.
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a new national cemetery in the State of Hawai‘i, following federal law and environmental review. The Secretary must prioritize sites near population centers with good transportation access, minimize environmental impacts, consult state and local veterans’ representatives, and provide a list of potential sites within one year and annual progress reports until the cemetery opens.
Introduced January 12, 2026 by Mazie Hirono · Last progress January 12, 2026