S 1071 · enacted · niche
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- veterans
What this bill does
- The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to disinter remains from a national cemetery based on a prior conviction.
- This affects the next of kin of Fernando V. Cota, whose remains are at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas.
- The VA must notify relatives and return the remains or arrange disposition if no family member claims them.
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Community Threads
Started by Cosponsor
- 01
How should the government balance honoring burial preferences with addressing concerns about who is buried in national cemeteries?
- 02
What safeguards should exist before the VA disinters remains based on a prior conviction, and who should decide if those conditions are met?
- 03
If remains are unclaimed after the VA notifies relatives, what options should be available for final disposition?
Cosponsor writes these to seed civic discussion — they aren't user posts. Sign in to reply.

Sponsor · R-TX
John Cornyn
Citizen cosponsors
0
In Congress
1/ 100
Senators cosponsoring
Introduced 2025-12-18
Joining the bill
Legislative timeline
2025-12-18 · President
Became Public Law No: 119-60.
2025-12-18 · BecameLaw
Became Public Law No: 119-60.
2025-12-18 · President
Signed by President.
2025-12-18 · BecameLaw
Signed by President.
2025-12-18 · house · Floor
Presented to President.
2025-12-18 · President
Presented to President.
2025-12-18 · senate · Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2025-12-17 · senate · ResolvingDifferences
Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1071 by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 20. Record Vote Number: 648.
2025-12-17 · NotUsed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1071 by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 20. Record Vote Number: 648.
2025-12-17 · senate · Floor
Motion by Senator Thune to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071 with an amendment (SA 3961) withdrawn in Senate.
2025-12-17 · senate · Floor
Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered).
2025-12-16 · senate · Floor
Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S8749)
2025-12-15 · senate · Floor
Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S8707-8708)
2025-12-15 · senate · Floor
Motion by Senator Thune to refer to Senate Committee on Armed Services the House message to accompany S. 1071 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3963) fell when cloture was invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071 in Senate.
2025-12-15 · senate · Floor
Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 76 - 20. Record Vote Number: 647. (CR S8707)
2025-12-11 · senate · Floor
Motion by Senator Thune to refer to Senate Committee on Armed Services the House message to accompany S. 1071 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3963) made in Senate. (CR S8656)
2025-12-11 · senate · Floor
Motion by Senator Thune to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071 with an amendment (SA 3961) made in Senate. (CR S8656)
2025-12-11 · senate · Floor
Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071 presented in Senate. (CR S8655-8656)
2025-12-11 · senate · Floor
Motion by Senator Thune to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071 made in Senate. (CR S8655)
2025-12-11 · senate · Floor
Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S8655-8656)
2025-12-11 · senate · Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of the House message to accompany S. 1071 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 75 - 22. Record Vote Number: 646. (CR S8655)
2025-12-10 · senate · Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
2025-12-10 · house · Floor
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-12-10 · house · Floor
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 112 (Roll no. 320). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5136-5510)
2025-12-10 · Floor
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 112 (Roll no. 320). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5136-5510)
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