To require the Secretary of the Army to accelerate actions necessary to carry out caisson services at Arlington National Cemetery.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · December 5, 2024
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill requires the Secretary of the Army to accelerate caisson services at Arlington National Cemetery, where horse-drawn carriages traditionally carry caskets during military funerals. Within 30 days of the bill's enactment, the Army must submit a plan to procure horses for the Caisson Platoon of the 3rd Infantry Regiment and begin conducting at least two funerals with caisson services per week, either directly or through a contract with a private organization if needed. If contracting with a private entity, that organization must start providing services within 60 days and supply horses for at least one daily funeral until the Army's backlog is cleared and can handle one caisson funeral per business day on its own. The legislation also requires the Secretary to report monthly to Congress on families waiting for caisson services and directs the Army to consider land in West Virginia and Virginia for operations and training of the caisson platoon. The bill aims to address a backlog of military families awaiting these traditional funeral ceremonies.
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