Pappas’s Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act, Now Law, Praised by Director of NH State Veterans Cemetery

During an oversight hearing today, bipartisan legislation championed by Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ranking Member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) Subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and signed into law in 2022, was praised by Shawn Buck, the Director of New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, for ensuring burial equity for National Guard members and Reservists.

During his opening remarks, Shawn Buck, Director of New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, applauded Congressman Pappas’s Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act saying, “New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery is one of the first states to implement the burial equity act, thanks to the great work of our legislators and others. Since June 1st, 2022 we have conducted 97 burial equity interments, of which 16 of them are dependents. It’s been a very important program in the state of New Hampshire, because in New Hampshire… most of the time when you see somebody in uniform it’s a member of the Guard or Reserve component. And it’s important we honor those folks who serve our country and communities as well.”

In 2022, Pappas's Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act was signed into law by President Biden as part of the Omnibus funding package. In order to be buried in a cemetery under the control of VA's National Cemetery Administration (NCA), a veteran must meet certain requirements. Prior to the signing of this law, in order to receive federal grant money from VA for improvements, state veterans cemeteries were barred from interring many National Guard members and Reservists due to rules requiring active service. This legislation modified existing law to allow state cemeteries, including New Hampshire's Veterans Cemetery, to decide whether to inter an other than dishonorably discharged Guard member, Reservist, or their spouse or children, without jeopardizing their eligibility for federal grant funding.

Watch the full hearing here.