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H.R. 3944: Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021

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H.R. 3944: Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-06-16 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 12.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-06-16 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 12. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021

Plain summary

Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from establishing a condition for a cemetery grant that restricts the ability of a state to inter certain reservists (or their spouses and children) at a state-owned veterans' cemetery solely because such individuals are ineligible for burial in an open national cemetery. Specifically, as a condition for grants, the VA cannot restrict the ability of a state to inter a member of a reserve component whose service was terminated under honorable conditions; member of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard whose service was terminated under honorable conditions; member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force who died under honorable conditions while a member; and spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of any member described above. The VA is prohibited from (1) denying an application for a grant solely on the basis that the recipient state may use funds to expand, improve, operate, or maintain a veterans' cemetery to allow for the internment of the specified individuals; and (2) enforcing certain conditions on grants for state veterans' cemeteries that were established before the date of enactment of this bill. The bill also provides for plot allowances for the individuals listed in the bill.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] · 22 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3944, Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021 (2021-12-07)

Cosponsors on this site

Angie Craig (D-MN), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Melanie A. Stansbury (D-NM)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] reported raising $23.7 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr3944 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117