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H.R. 6456

U.S. House•In House Committee

Summary

H.R. 6456, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes, was introduced in the House on Dec 4, 2025 by Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R) with 2 co-sponsors. It was referred to Veterans' Affairs, and last saw action on Dec 4, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Record

Text

H.R. 6456 has 2 co-sponsors.

hb6456/introduced-in-house.txt
119 HR 6456 IH: To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes.
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-12-04
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 6456  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   December 4, 2025   Mr. Luttrell  (for himself,  Mr. Self , and  Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Veterans' Affairs    A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes.
1.
Disinterment of remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas
(a)
Disinterment
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas.
(b)
Notification
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not carry out subsection (a) until after notifying the next of kin of Fernando V. Cota.
(c)
Disposition
After carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—
(1)
relinquish the remains to the next of kin described in subsection (b); or
(2)
if no such next of kin responds to the notification under subsection (b), arrange for disposition of the remains as the Secretary determines appropriate.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-12-04
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Dec 4, 2025

hb6456/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (12/04/2025)

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, after notifying his next of kin. The VA must relinquish the remains to the next of kin or, if no next of kin responds to the notification, arrange for the disposition of the remains. Cota was interred prior to the enactment of regulations that would have barred his interment due to a 1975 rape conviction.

Sponsors

Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R) sponsors H.R. 6456, and 2 members have co-sponsored it, all of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 6456 went before 1 committee: Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs
Veterans' Affairs
Referred To · Dec 4, 2025 · 285 Bills

Actions

H.R. 6456 has taken 2 actions since Dec 4, 2025.

ChamberAction
Dec 4, 2025
House
Introduced in House
Dec 4, 2025
House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Veterans' Affairs Committee

Votes

H.R. 6456 has not gone to a roll call.

1 bill is related to H.R. 6456, as Identical bill.

Titles

H.R. 6456 goes by 2 titles.

  • To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced
  • To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes. — Display Title

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 6456 under Armed Forces and National Security, one of its 31 policy areas.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 6456’s is Armed Forces and National Security.

hr6456/policy-areas.txt
Armed Forces and National SecurityAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 6456, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 203 (Thursday, December 4, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. LUTTRELL:H.R. 6456.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Under Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, Congresshas the power ``To make all Laws which shall be necessary andproper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, andall other Powers vested by this Constitution in theGovernment of the United States, or in any Department orOfficer thereof.''[Page H5052]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com