Congressman Yakym celebrates House passage of sweeping veterans package, including his Final Resting Place Bill

Today, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) celebrated House passage of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (H.R. 9237), a sweeping, bipartisan package that expands health care access, strengthens disability and survivor benefits, and improves services for millions of America’s veterans and their families.

The package includes the Major Richard Star Act, as well as Yakym’s Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act, which gives the families of deceased veterans the flexibility to lay their loved one to rest in a VA National Cemetery.

“Our nation owes everything to the men and women who fought to protect our freedoms. This historic package delivers long-overdue reforms to strengthen veterans’ health care, expand benefits, and cut through VA bureaucracy,” said Rep. Yakym. “Our veterans kept their promise to America, and we must keep our promise to them. I was proud to champion this package to help deliver on that promise.”

Background

The legislation includes nearly 60 bipartisan bills and represents one of the most significant expansions of veterans’ health care and benefits in decades.

• Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act: Authored by Rep. Yakym, the bill fixes a loophole that prevents survivors who first chose a VA urn or plaque from later having their loved one interred in a VA National Cemetery. Full text of the legislation can be found HERE. 
• Major Richard Star Act: Cosponsored by Rep. Yakym, the bill would allow thousands of combat-injured veterans who were medically retired before 20 years of service to receive both their full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation. Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

Read more on the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act HERE.