U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
HB4398: Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act
Status: In committee, June 30, 2026
To direct a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certify the death of a veteran not later than 48 hours after such physician or nurse practitioner learns of such death, and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To direct a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certify the death of a veteran not later than 48 hours after such physician or nurse practitioner learns of such death, and for other purposes.
From the introduced text, July 15, 2025:
A BILL To direct a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certify the death of a veteran not later than 48 hours after such physician or nurse practitioner learns of such death, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act . SECTION 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) States and counties have reported significant delays in the signing of death certificates for veterans who pass away from natural causes. (2) Such delays, caused by the refusal of, or postponement by, physicians of the Department of Veterans Affairs have, in some cases, lasted as long as eight weeks. (3) Such delays prevent the timely burial of deceased veterans and access to survivor benefits. SECTION 3. Timely certification of the death of a veteran (a) In general (1) VA physician or nurse practitioner Subject to paragraph (2), a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs who is the primary care provider of a veteran who dies of natural causes shall certify the death of such veteran not later than 48 hours after such physician or nurse practitioner learns of such death. (2) Coroner or medical examiner If a physician or nurse practitioner described in paragraph (1) …
Sponsors
- Tom Emmer (R, HD-006) · primary sponsor
- Guy Reschenthaler (R, HD-PA-14)
- Andrew Garbarino (R, HD-002)
- Scott DesJarlais (R, HD-004)
- Robert Latta (R, HD-005)
- Nicole Malliotakis (R, HD-011)
- Keith Self (R, HD-003)
- Claudia Tenney (R, HD-024)
- Nick LaLota (R, HD-NY-1)
- Steve Womack (R)
- Maria Salazar (R, HD-FL-27)
- Pete Stauber (R, HD-008)
Latest actions
- : Subcommittee Hearings Held
- : Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- : Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- : Introduced in House
Subjects: Veterans' medical care, Health personnel, Armed Forces and National Security, Congressional oversight
Common questions
- What is HB4398?
- HB4398 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act.
- What does HB4398 do?
- In its own words: To direct a physician or nurse practitioner employed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certify the death of a veteran not later than 48 hours after such physician or nurse practitioner learns of such death, and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB4398?
- In committee as of June 30, 2026. Latest action: Subcommittee Hearings Held (June 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB4398?
- Tom Emmer (R, HD-006), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB4398?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4398
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.