H.R. 6456
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Morgan Luttrell
2 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, after notifying his next of kin. The VA must relinquish the remains to the next of kin or, if no next of kin responds to the notification, arrange for the disposition of the remains. Cota was interred prior to the enactment of regulations that would have barred his interment due to a 1975 rape conviction.
Text of the bill
(a) Disinterment. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas.
(b) Notification. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not carry out subsection (a) until after notifying the next of kin of Fernando V. Cota.
(c) Disposition. After carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—
(1) relinquish the remains to the next of kin described in subsection (b); or
(2) if no such next of kin responds to the notification under subsection (b), arrange for disposition of the remains as the Secretary determines appropriate.