May 29, 2025
Mr. Mast introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration
To permit the remains of certain members of the armed forces who died in line of duty to lie in honor in the rotunda of the United States Capitol, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Final Honors Act of 2025
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Sec. 2. Permitting remains of certain members of armed forces who died in line of duty to lie in honor in Capitol rotunda
(a) Request of surviving next of kin
(1) Request
At the request of the primary surviving next of kin of a member of the Armed Forces who dies from an injury incurred in line of duty (unless such injury is covered by an exclusion under section 105 of title 38, United States Code), the remains of the member shall be permitted to lie in honor in the rotunda of the United States Capitol.
(2) Notification of next of kin
The Secretary concerned shall notify the primary surviving next of kin of a member of the Armed Forces described in paragraph (1) pursuant to section 562 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163; 10 U.S.C. 1475 note). For purposes of this paragraph, the term Secretary concerned
has the meaning given such term in section 101(9) of title 10, United States Code.
(b) Responsibilities of the Architect of the Capitol
The Architect of the Capitol, under the direction of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate, shall take such steps as the Architect considers appropriate to carry out this Act, including determining the date and time during which the remains of a member of the Armed Forces shall be permitted to lie in honor and establishing regulations to determine who is the primary surviving next of kin of the member.
(c) Effective date
This Act shall apply with respect to a member of the Armed Forces who dies on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.