Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Representative Zachary Nunn

Re: HR 9321 (119th Congress), To temporarily expand the authorized uses of grants awarded under the Veterans Legacy Program of the National Cemetery Administration, and for other purposes. · Latest action (2026-06-25): Subcommittee Hearings Held
VFA SI Solution #125 · published 2026-06-18 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/125
Office of record (Congress.gov): 1410 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC · (202) 225-5476

Veterans Legacy Program Grant Use Expansion and Oversight Act

The measure, as described from the official record: To temporarily expand the types of activities or projects that can be funded by grants under the Veterans Legacy Program of the National Cemetery Administration, such as oral histories, educational materials, and community outreach.

The proposal

This Act amends the Veterans Legacy Program to temporarily expand authorized grant uses for specified activities directly related to commemorating veterans' service and sacrifice. For a period of five years, grants may fund oral history projects, digital archives, community engagement events at national cemeteries, and educational curriculum development. Grant recipients shall be selected through a competitive process, with preference given to projects that leverage local partnerships and include cost-sharing from non-federal sources. The National Cemetery Administration shall issue regulations to ensure transparency and accountability, and shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing grant distributions, project outcomes, and total expenditures. This Act does not mandate state or private participation, and all activities must comply with federal standards for preservation and respect for veterans and their families.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

funding source: Appropriations from the Department of Veterans Affairs general fund, allocated to the National Cemetery Administration's administrative budget.
funding amount: $10 million per fiscal year for five years (total $50 million), with unexpended funds reverting to the Treasury.
sunset years: 5 years
oversight body: National Cemetery Administration Office of Program Oversight
enforcement mechanism: Grant recipients must submit semiannual progress reports and independent financial audits. Non-compliance or misuse of funds results in immediate clawback of unspent amounts and disqualification from future grants.
effective date: October 1, 2026

Constitutional basis

Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 (General Welfare)
Article I, Section 8, Clause 12 (Armies)
Article I, Section 8, Clause 14 (Land and Naval Forces)
Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 (Necessary and Proper Clause)
Amendment X (Reserved Powers)

Concerns with the measure as written:

The original bill may lack specific spending limits and oversight, potentially leading to indefinite or broad spending beyond the federal interest in veterans and national cemeteries.
Without explicit sunset and reporting requirements, the expansion could become permanent without evaluation.

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

Honors Democratic priorities for federal investment in veterans' commemoration, education, and community history projects. Honors Republican priorities for limited government through temporary authorization, specific spending caps, local cost-sharing, and robust oversight to prevent waste.

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/125 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology