S. 1179Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 3:33 PM UTC

The Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act changes the rules for burial in U.S. national cemeteries. It lets the Secretary of Veterans Affairs honor Hmong individuals who fought with U.S. forces in Laos during the Vietnam War, as well as those who became U.S. citizens through a prior naturalization law, provided they lived in the United States at the time of death. The law applies to anyone who dies on or after its enactment.

Key Provisions

Adds a new eligibility category for national cemetery interment covering (A) Hmong veterans who were naturalized under the 2000 Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act and lived in the U.S. at death, and (B) individuals who served honorably with special guerrilla or irregular forces in Laos supporting U.S. forces between Feb. 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975, and who were U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents residing in the U.S. at death.
Specifies that the new eligibility applies to deaths occurring on or after the date the Act becomes law.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 18, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 18, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 18, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 18, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1179

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 18, 2017

Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Franken, Ms. Baldwin, and Mrs. Feinstein) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to inter in national cemeteries individuals who supported the United States in Laos during the Vietnam War era, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hmong Veterans’ Service Recognition Act.

Eligibility for interment in national cemeteries

(a)

In general

Section 2402(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(10)

Any individual—

(A)

who—

(i)

was naturalized pursuant to section 2(1) of the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–207; 8 U.S.C. 1423 note); and

(ii)

at the time of the individual’s death resided in the United States; or

(B)

who—

(i)

the Secretary determines served honorably with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base in Laos in support of the Armed Forces of the United States at any time during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending May 7, 1975; and

(ii)

at the time of the individual’s death—

(I)

was a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; and

(II)

resided in the United States.

(b)

Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an individual dying on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.