DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that will allow Iowa officials to more quickly identify unclaimed cremated remains of veterans.
Branstad signed the bill into law Wednesday, following unanimous support this session from both the House and Senate.
The law will give an Iowa funeral director the authority to work with veterans affairs officials to determine if any unclaimed cremated remains belong to a veteran or a dependent of a veteran for inurnment at a national or state veterans cemetery. The funeral director can release the remains for proper inurnment to certain veterans organizations after a waiting period.
Lawmakers who spoke in support of the bill say it is part of a national effort to locate, identify and inter such unclaimed cremated remains.
