Indian Veterans' Cemetery Bill Passes Congress

by Brad Jolly, Partner
Dec 12, 2006

Congressman Tom Udall's (D-NM) bill to allow tribes to receive funds for veterans' cemeteries passed both houses of Congress. Under the Native American Veterans Cemetery Act, tribes can establish cemeteries for deceased veterans on the reservation. Representative Udall noted what most of us already know, but the majority of Americans fail to recognize: that Indians have the highest record per capita of any ethnic group serving in the U.S. military. The Native American Veterans Cemetery Act is a good step forward in recognizing the unique sacrifice of Indian peoples for the United States that is unmatched by any other group in the country.