Fernando V. Cota is currently interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas. The bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter his remains within one year of enactment. Before doing so, the VA must notify Cota's next of kin, who would then have the right to receive the remains. If no next of kin responds, the VA would determine the appropriate final disposition. No explanation for the disinterment is provided in the bill text.
Congressional Summary
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.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-12-04
- Date Added
- 2026-04-09
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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