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CIVIC HERALD
S 1071 · 119th Congress · SenateEnacted

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

In plain language: This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to remove the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas within one year. Before taking this action, the department must notify Cota's next of kin. The agency must then hand over the remains to the family, or decide how to dispose of them if no family member responds.

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.

Provisionalunreviewed: impact, provisions, stakeholders, summary
People affected—The text identifies one deceased individual (Fernando V. Cota) and refers to their next of kin, but does not provide a specific count of surviving individuals affected.
Fiscal magnitude—Not determinable from the text provided; no specific appropriations, funding authorizations, or cost estimates are specified.
Reach2provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
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Who it affects

Who it helps · who it burdens.

Who it helps

  • Next of kin of Fernando V. CotaGuaranteed advance notice before disinterment and given the right to take possession of the remains (Sec. 1(b), (c)(1)).provisional

Who it burdens

  • Department of Veterans AffairsMust locate and notify next of kin, disinter the remains within one year, and either transfer the remains to the family or arrange for alternative disposition (Sec. 1(a)-(c)).provisional

Dollar-level funding (FEC sector totals) is coming in a later phase.

What it does

The provisions, in plain language.

  1. Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas within one year.

    Sec. 1(a)provisional

  2. Requires the VA to notify the next of kin of Fernando V. Cota before removing the remains.

    Sec. 1(b)provisional

  3. Requires the VA to turn over the remains to the next of kin, or arrange an alternative disposition if the next of kin does not respond.

    Sec. 1(c)provisional

How your members of Congress line up

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Timeline

How it moved.

  1. Dec 18, 2025Became Public Law No: 119-60.
  2. Dec 18, 2025Became Public Law No: 119-60.
  3. Dec 18, 2025Signed by President.
  4. Dec 18, 2025Signed by President.
  5. Dec 18, 2025Presented to President.
  6. Dec 18, 2025Presented to President.
  7. Dec 17, 2025Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1071 by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 20. Record Vote Number: 648.
  8. Dec 17, 2025Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1071 by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 20. Record Vote Number: 648.
  9. Dec 15, 2025Motion by Senator Thune to refer to Senate Committee on Armed Services the House message to accompany S. 1071 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3963) fell when cloture was invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071 in Senate.
  10. Dec 15, 2025Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 76 - 20. Record Vote Number: 647. (CR S8707)
  11. Dec 11, 2025Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 1071 presented in Senate. (CR S8655-8656)
  12. Dec 11, 2025Motion to proceed to consideration of the House message to accompany S. 1071 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 75 - 22. Record Vote Number: 646. (CR S8655)
  13. Dec 10, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  14. Dec 10, 2025On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 112 (Roll no. 320). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5136-5510)
  15. Dec 10, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 112 (Roll no. 320). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5136-5510)
  16. Dec 10, 2025On motion to commit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 216 (Roll no. 319).
  17. Dec 10, 2025Rule H. Res. 936 passed House.
  18. Dec 9, 2025Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 936 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3898, H.R. 3383, H.R. 3638, H.R. 3628, H.R. 3668 and S. 1071. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3898, H.R. 3383, H.R. 3638, and H.R. 3628 under a structured rule; and H.R. 3668 and S. 1071 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 3898, H.R. 3383, H.R. 3638, H.R. 3628, and H.R. 3668; and one motion to commit on S. 1071.
  19. Aug 1, 2025Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5475; text: CR S5475)
  20. Aug 1, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  21. Mar 14, 2025Introduced in Senate

The original text

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Sources & provenance

Congress.govrefreshed 6 days ago

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