A provision in the House version of the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signals lawmakers’ intent to protect burial with military honors and prevent a reduction in service-earned benefits.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your House Member to Support the Expanding America's National Cemetery Act]

The bill contains language from the Expanding America’s National Cemetery Act (H.R. 1413) requiring a joint report from DoD and the VA with “a proposal to increase national cemetery capacity through the expansion or modification of a national cemetery that has, or will have, the capacity to provide full military honors.”

This is an important signal from lawmakers on the importance of continuing military funerals with honors and keeping our nation’s promise to our military community – a signal that runs counter to a previous proposal in the federal rulemaking process to dramatically reduce eligibility for Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) based on awards.

[MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSAL: ANC Information Paper]

A reporting requirement is often the first milestone toward achieving a long-term solution through legislation. Growing support for the Expanding America’s National Cemetery Act is still required to ensure it is on the path for enactment in the 118th Congress.

Support for the bill has grown to 56 House co-sponsors. It includes MOAA along with fellow members of The Military Coalition (TMC), a group of 35 military and veteran service organizations (MSO/VSOs).  

[RELATED: The Military Coalition Weighs in to Protect Eligibility for Burial With Honors]

You can help support this advocacy campaign by activating your network of friends, family, and military community by asking them to click this link and send a message to their House member. You can check and see if your House member is a co-sponsor at this link.

Protecting the Caisson Platoon

Both the House and Senate versions of the NDAA also contain protection for Arlington National Cemetery’s Caisson Platoon. Burials with horse-drawn caissons from platoon have been on hold, and the unit had to suspend operations to correct health and welfare concerns of the herd.

Protective language in the House NDAA would “prevent the Secretary of the Army from eliminating the Caisson Platoon of the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Army, which participates in full honors military funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery,” and requires a report on the health of the horses. The Senate version, released publicly July 11, includes similar health-report language, seeking "the results of a study to address the feasibility and advisability of establishing sufficient stabling, pasture, and training area" for the animals.

[JULY 19 WEBINAR: MOAA's Legislative Update]

Next Steps

If the House version passes the full chamber, the next major hurdle will be the NDAA conference, when House and Senate conferees traditionally meet to agree what will be in the final bill voted on by both chambers. Your voice as a constituent matters significantly as the House and Senate must work together to complete the NDAA. Here’s how you can help:

• Activate members of your network to write and call their lawmakers and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 1413, or join the Senate effort to introduce a companion bill.
• Encourage your network and family to use MOAA’s Capital Hotline – 866-272-MOAA (6622), a toll-free line to the U.S. Capitol switchboard – to connect with their legislators' offices.
• When using the hotline, be sure to ask to speak with the military legislative assistant or legislative director. If neither staffer is available, ask to schedule a phone call with one of them to discuss H.R. 1413.
• Reach out to your local veterans organizations and ask them to send messages. You can share the Capital Hotline and this link to send a message.

[RELATED: NDAA Clears House and Senate Committees: What’s In, and What’s Next?]

H.R. 1413 Talking Points

When engaging your elected officials or their staff members, or when discussing the issue with your network, use these talking points from the information paper to grow support.

• ANC will eventually run out of room.
• An enduring solution is required to maintain an equivalent level of benefits.
• The VA runs 155 national cemeteries, and the DoD runs ANC.
• While DoD’s primary focus for resources is national security, partnering with the VA will provide an integrative approach with resources.
• Transforming a VA national cemetery to afford full military honors would sustain an equivalent of benefits at an existing facility.
• Cooperation between DoD and the VA can offer a solution in which the VA runs operations, and the armed services provide ceremonial honors at the same level as ANC.

You can read more about MOAA Advocacy at MOAA’s Advocacy News page.