S. 3523 – Full Military Honors Act of 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 16, 2026 at 12:03 AM UTC

The Full Military Honors Act of 2018 changes U.S. law so that certain veterans receive a full military honors ceremony at their funeral. It applies to veterans who are first buried or placed in a niche at Arlington National Cemetery after the law takes effect, who have received either the Medal of Honor or the Prisoner of War medal, and who would not otherwise qualify for full honors based on their rank.

Key Provisions

Adds a new subsection to 10 U.S.C. §1491(b) requiring the appropriate Secretary to provide full military honors for the funeral of a veteran who meets all three conditions: (A) first interred or inurned at Arlington National Cemetery after the law’s enactment, (B) awarded the Medal of Honor or Prisoner‑of‑War medal, and (C) not already entitled to full honors because of the veteran’s grade.

Legislative Activity

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7 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 20, 2018 • 6:01 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 27, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

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

Veterans' Affairs Committee

September 27, 2018

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7897)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

December 19, 2018

SenateDischarge

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7897)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

December 19, 2018

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S7897)

December 19, 2018

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 20, 2018

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 20, 2018 • 10:55 AM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 20, 2018 • 6:01 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 3523 on the floor

1 Republican

Sen. John CornynR-TX · Dec 19, 2018

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 3523 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I ask unanimous consent that…

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued December 19, 2018

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3523

AN ACT

To amend title 10, United States Code, to require a full military honors ceremony for certain deceased veterans, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Full Military Honors Act of 2018.

2.

Full military honors ceremony for certain veterans

Section 1491(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3)

The Secretary concerned shall provide full military honors (as determined by the Secretary concerned) for the funeral of a veteran who—

(A)

is first interred or first inurned in Arlington National Cemetery on or after the date of the enactment of the Full Military Honors Act of 2018;

(B)

was awarded the medal of honor or the prisoner-of-war medal; and

(C)

is not entitled to full military honors by the grade of that veteran.

.

Passed the Senate December 19, 2018.

Secretary