H.R. 2385House116th Congress (2019-2021)Enacted

To permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:26 AM UTC

The bill lets the Secretary of Veterans Affairs create a grant program that funds research on veterans’ cemeteries and the development of educational materials about them. Grants can go to colleges, local school districts, nonprofit groups with community‑engagement experience, or other suitable entities. The program is meant to support the Veterans Legacy Program’s goal of sharing the history of veterans buried in national, state, or tribal cemeteries.

Key Provisions

The Secretary may establish a grant program for cemetery research and educational material production.
Eligible grant recipients include institutions of higher learning, local education agencies, nonprofit entities with a history of community engagement, and other recipients the Secretary deems appropriate.
Grant funds can be used to research veterans’ cemeteries, create educational resources about those cemeteries, and promote community engagement with veterans’ histories.
Each grant may not exceed $500,000.
The Secretary must issue regulations covering how grant applications are evaluated and how the program is administered.
Within two years of establishing the program, the Secretary must report to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees on whether the grant program is a financially effective way to meet its goals.

Legislative Activity

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22 earlier actions

Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 116-107.

January 17, 2020

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 29, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 29, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee

May 6, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 8, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 8, 2019

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 116-179.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 24, 2019

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 138.

July 24, 2019

HouseFloor

Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

October 15, 2019 • 4:39 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8129-8130)

October 15, 2019 • 4:39 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2385.

October 15, 2019 • 4:39 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

October 15, 2019 • 4:51 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8137-8138)

October 15, 2019 • 6:32 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 1 (Roll no. 556).(text: CR H8129)

View vote Passed

October 15, 2019 • 7:01 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 1 (Roll no. 556). (text: CR H8129)

View vote Passed

October 15, 2019 • 7:01 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

October 15, 2019 • 7:01 PM

SenateIntro Referral

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

Veterans' Affairs Committee

October 16, 2019

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7231)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

December 19, 2019

SenateDischarge

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7231)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

December 19, 2019

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

December 19, 2019

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 23, 2019

President

Presented to President.

January 6, 2020

Became Law

Signed by President.

January 17, 2020

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 116-107.

January 17, 2020

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

October 15, 2019 at 7:00 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

409 - 1

Bill Text

6 versions available

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America

At the First Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen

H. R. 2385

AN ACT

To permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program.

Grants for cemetery research and the production of educational materials

(a)

Grants authorized

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program.

(2)

Eligible recipients

The Secretary may award a grant under this section to any of the following entities:

(A)

An institution of higher learning.

(B)

A local education agency.

(C)

A non-profit entity that the Secretary determines has a demonstrated history of community engagement.

(D)

Another recipient the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(3)

Use of funds

A recipient of a grant under this section may use the grant amount to—

(A)

conduct research related to national, State, or Tribal veterans’ cemeteries;

(B)

produce education materials that teach about the history of veterans interred in national, State, or Tribal veterans’ cemeteries; and

(C)

promote community engagement with the histories of veterans interred in national, State, or Tribal veterans’ cemeteries.

(4)

Maximum amount

A grant awarded under this section may not exceed $500,000.

(b)

Regulations

If the Secretary establishes a grant program under this section, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations regarding—

(1)

the evaluation of applications for grants under the program; and

(2)

administration of the program.

(c)

Report required

Not later than 2 years after the Secretary establishes a grant program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report regarding the determination of the Secretary whether the grant program is a financially effective means to promote the purposes in subsection (a)(3).

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term Veterans Legacy Program means the program of the National Cemetery Administration that is responsible for providing engagement and educational tools and opportunities to the public regarding the service and sacrifice of veterans interred in national, State, or Tribal veterans’ cemeteries.

(2)

The term institution of higher learning has the meaning given that term in section 3452(f) of title 38, United States Code.

(3)

The term local educational agency has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.