Sponsors (3)
The bill ensures families can obtain a veteran's remains within a set timeframe to secure closure, at the cost of some added VA administrative burden and the risk that broad Secretary discretion could leave families without control if no next of kin responds.
Veterans' next of kin (and other family members) can receive Fernando V. Cota's remains within one year, giving families timely closure and private burial choices and preventing indefinite retention of remains by the VA.
The VA may incur additional administrative and logistical costs and workload to locate next of kin, notify them, and carry out disinterment within the one‑year deadline.
If no next of kin responds, the Secretary has broad discretion over disposition, which could leave families feeling they lack control over burial decisions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the VA Secretary to disinter Fernando V. Cota’s remains from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery within one year, notify next of kin, then return or otherwise dispose of the remains.
Introduced December 4, 2025 by Morgan Luttrell · Last progress December 4, 2025
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas within one year of enactment. The Secretary must notify Cota’s next of kin before disinterment and then either turn the remains over to the notified next of kin or, if no next of kin responds, arrange for disposition as the Secretary determines appropriate.