A provision offered by U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) to support military families who need to obtain a deceased veteran’s death certificate passed the U.S. House of Representatives on June 25 as part of a larger bill that now advances to the U.S. Senate for action.
“No family should have to suffer through this while they are dealing with the pain of losing a loved one, especially not our military families,” Rep. Emmer said.
The House voted 218-206 to approve the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA) Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2026, H.R. 3944, which includes Rep. Emmer’s provision to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to prepare a report offering solutions to ensure military families receive a deceased veteran’s death certificate in a timely manner.
“I am grateful to the leadership of the Appropriations Committee for including this language in our MilConVA Appropriations package and look forward to the results of the report,” said Rep. Emmer.
In May, Congressman Emmer sent a letter to the leadership of the Appropriations Subcommittee on MilConVA urging them to include his language in the FY 2026 MilConVA Appropriations package.
The effort comes in response to reports the congressman’s office received about delays in signing death certificates for Minnesota veterans who died of natural causes.
The delays, lasting up to eight weeks in some cases, cause significant distress for families, as veterans cannot be buried without a signed death certificate, according to information provided by Rep. Emmer’s staff.
The congressman successfully advocated for similar language to be included in the FY 2025 MilConVA appropriations bill that passed the House but failed to receive a vote in the Senate.