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S. 4949: National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022

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S. 4949: National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022

117th Congress · introduced 2022-09-27 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Became Public Law No: 117-355.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2022-09-27 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 117-355. (final step reached)
  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

National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022

Plain summary

National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022 This act addresses the administration and jurisdiction of national cemeteries. Specifically, the act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay a plot or interment allowance for a veteran if the veteran was buried before March 15, 2022, in a cemetery on trust land owned by, or held in trust for, a tribal organization, and the organization that maintains or operates the cemetery applies for such allowance. Such allowance is only authorized if a plot or interment allowance was not already paid for the burial of such veteran. The act also authorizes the VA to designate green burial sections in national cemeteries (i.e., sections of cemeteries in which the remains of individuals have been prepared for interment in a manner not involving chemicals or embalming fluids and have been interred in a natural manner or completely biodegradable burial receptacle). The act authorizes the Department of the Army to transfer certain lands to the VA to expand the Fort Bliss National Cemetery. In addition, the act authorizes the Department of the Interior to transfer certain land to the VA for the land to be used as a national cemetery. Finally, the act prohibits persons who have committed certain crimes from being interred or memorialized in a cemetery in the National Cemetery Administration or in Arlington National Cemetery.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), 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

National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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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: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Mike Rounds (R-SD)

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 (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Jurisdiction
The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-s4949 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117