Veterans’ Cremation Certainty Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5931 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5931 To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide direct payment to cremation providers for direct cremation designated by veterans prior to death, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 7, 2025 Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide direct payment to cremation providers for direct cremation designated by veterans prior to death, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Cremation Certainty Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. DIRECT PAYMENT FOR DIRECT CREMATION. (a) Direct Payment for Direct Cremation.--Chapter 23 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 2309. Direct payment for direct cremation ``(a) Direct Payment.--Upon the death of an eligible veteran who has submitted an application described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall pay the direct cremation provider specified in such application the following applicable payment for the cost of direct cremation: ``(1) For a veteran described in section 2303(a)(2) of this title, such payment shall not exceed the amount authorized under such section and shall be in lieu of any benefit authorized under section 2302 of this title. ``(2) For a veteran described in section 2307 of this title, such payment shall not exceed the amount authorized under section 2307 of this title and sh