The New Jersey Senate has approved bipartisan legislation aimed at improving the process for the disposition and burial of unclaimed cremated remains of veterans. The bill, sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-30) and Senator Carmen Amato, Jr. (R-9), seeks to ensure that veterans receive a proper burial.
Senator Singer emphasized the importance of honoring veterans: “Every veteran deserves the dignity of a proper burial. By modernizing how we identify and track unclaimed ashes, we’re creating a compassionate process to ensure every veteran is laid to rest with honor.”
Senator Amato highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative and its significance for his constituents: “Veterans and their families deserve our eternal gratitude and enduring respect. Accordingly, we have a sacred responsibility to ensure that veterans’ and their spouses’ remains can be claimed and given the proper burial they rightly deserve. It is important to emphasize that this veterans’ legislative initiative was a bipartisan effort advanced with the support of several veterans’ organizations. In representing a legislative district among the highest number of veterans in the state, I know that my constituents want every effort made to see that those who serve our great nation find a final resting place.”
The legislation, identified as S-3022/A-1131, proposes amendments requiring the New Jersey Electronic Death Registration System (NJ-EDRS) to automatically notify the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) when a veteran or their eligible family members are cremated. After one year, these notifications would allow the DVA to check with funeral homes on whether any veteran’s cremains remain unclaimed. If so, the DVA could then help connect funeral homes with qualified veterans’ organizations to arrange for appropriate disposition.
Further details about the bill can be found online.
