U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Gary Peters (D-MI) have introduced the Gerald’s Law Reauthorization Act of 2026. The legislation aims to ensure that terminally ill veterans are not denied a monetary burial allowance if they die in a facility not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Under previous rules, the VA could only provide funds for burial and funeral expenses to veterans who died while hospitalized at a VA facility through the Non-Service-Connected Burial and Plot Benefit. Gerald’s Law, named after Army veteran Gerald “Jerry” Elliot—whose family was denied this benefit when he passed away in a non-VA facility—was designed to address this issue. Boozman and Peters helped include the law in the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. The current reauthorization would extend these expanded benefits, which are set to expire in October, through 2030.
“Veterans receiving hospice care who spend their last days in security and familiarity all deserve access to the hard-earned benefits they were promised including their final arrangements,” said Boozman. “Allowing the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform to make end-of-life decisions based on comfort – not cost – is only right, and I am pleased to work in a bipartisan fashion to ensure they are laid to rest with this dignity.”
“Today, because of late Michigander Gerald Elliot’s story, our veterans can no longer be denied critical VA benefits if they choose to receive hospice care outside of a VA facility,” said Peters. “Now, it’s time to extend the commonsense law that we worked to enact so that our nation’s veterans and their families can continue to depend on the burial benefits they have earned during their service.”
Gerald’s Law has received support from several organizations representing veterans, including American Veterans (AMVETS), Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, The American Legion, Combined Arms, Disabled American Veterans, and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
Boozman maintains district offices throughout Arkansas communities for constituent assistance (official website). He also holds positions on Senate committees such as Appropriations; Veterans’ Affairs; Environment and Public Works; and Rules and Administration (official website). In addition to his legislative efforts like championing care expansion for women veterans and modernizing the GI Bill (official website), Boozman resides in Rogers, Arkansas with his family (official website) and holds an optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry (official website).
The full text of the legislation is available online.
