H.R. 4336, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the burial of the cremated remains of persons who served as Women’s Air Forces Service Pilots in Arlington National Cemetery

H.R. 4336 would expand the number of individuals who are eligible to have their cremated remains inurned in Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), and direct the Secretary of the Army to submit a report on the remaining capacity of ANC for both interments and inurnments. CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4336 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2017-2021 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

Enacting H.R. 4336 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4336 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.

Public Law 95-202 deemed the service of certain groups of women, civilians, and foreigners who served the United States during World War II as active duty for purposes of eligibility for benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Nearly 35 groups were made eligible for veterans’ benefits through that law including: the Women’s Air Forces Service Pilots, Signal Corps Female Telephone Operator Units, U.S. merchant seamen who served on blockships in support of Operation Mulberry, male civilian ferry pilots, and U.S. civilians of the American Field Service.

Under current law, the cremated remains of groups made eligible under Public Law 95-202 may be inurned in all cemeteries under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Their remains are not, however, eligible to be inurned in ANC, which is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense (DoD). Section 1 of H.R. 4336 would allow them to be inurned in ANC, if they have not been formally interred or inurned elsewhere as of the date of enactment of the bill.