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Historical Recognition: Headstones for Enslaved and Excluded Military Service.

This law expands eligibility for federally funded headstones and markers, provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to two historically excluded groups: enslaved individuals who performed military functions and individuals prohibited from serving due to race, gender, or ethnicity. This change allows descendants to obtain official, state-sponsored recognition for their ancestors' service, correcting historical injustices. These provisions will take effect no later than one year after enactment.
Key points
The VA must furnish headstones for the graves of enslaved individuals who accompanied soldiers or served in their stead, and individuals excluded from service due to racial or gender discrimination.
Requests for these markers can only be made by a direct descendant or an authorized representative with descendant consent, protecting family rights to commemoration.
For enslaved individuals who served in Confederate forces, the marker must explicitly state they were forced to support their own enslavement.
The VA has one year to develop regulations defining acceptable evidence (e.g., diaries, family records, newspapers) to prove service or kinship.
article Official text account_balance Process page
Introduced
Citizen Poll
No votes cast
Additional Information
Print number: 119_HR_6032
Sponsor: Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
Process start date: 2025-11-12
Lustra uses Artificial Intelligence. Verify details in source documents.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Headstones for Honor Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 119_HR_6032.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2025-11-12.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • The VA must furnish headstones for the graves of enslaved individuals who accompanied soldiers or served in their stead, and individuals excluded from service due to racial or gender discrimination.
  • Requests for these markers can only be made by a direct descendant or an authorized representative with descendant consent, protecting family rights to commemoration.
  • For enslaved individuals who served in Confederate forces, the marker must explicitly state they were forced to support their own enslavement.
  • The VA has one year to develop regulations defining acceptable evidence (e.g., diaries, family records, newspapers) to prove service or kinship.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Introduced.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-23.

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