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Banks bill passes House Monday

The House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday, Nov. 6, authored by Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03).

The Banks bill would revise existing law regarding headstones provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to the spouses and dependent children of veterans whose remains are never located.

The legislation passed the House unanimously and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Public Law 105-368 provides headstones for spouses and was enacted in 1998. Public Law 109-461 provides headstones for dependent children and was enacted in 2006.

Under current law, both groups are eligible for this benefit as of the date of enactment. However, these two laws did not go into effect at the same time, potentially opening the door for a parent to receive this benefit but not a child.