119-HR-2164 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A bill to let the Department of Veterans Affairs accept about 58 acres—at no cost for the land—from the Montgomery County Land Bank to expand Dayton National Cemetery.

What It Does

This bill authorizes the VA to enter into an agreement to receive a roughly 58‑acre parcel across from Dayton National Cemetery from the Montgomery County Land Bank. The land would be transferred to the VA at no cost for the land, and the VA must begin the agreement process within 30 days of an offer and accept the transfer within three years, for use as a national cemetery. The authority is narrowly tailored to this specific parcel and this specific land bank.

Key Numbers

Why It Matters

• Expands burial capacity adjacent to an existing national cemetery, keeping services local for veterans and families.
• No purchase price for the land itself, which can lower upfront costs compared with buying new acreage.
• Creates a clear timeline to move the transfer forward, reducing uncertainty about future cemetery space in the Dayton area.

Who’s For It

• Sponsor: Rep. Michael R. Turner (R‑OH), who introduced the bill, framing it as a way to ensure continued burial space at Dayton National Cemetery at no land‑purchase cost.
• Montgomery County Land Bank, which is named as the transferor and would convey the parcel to the VA.
• Local veterans and community stakeholders are often supportive of expansions that preserve access to burial services near existing cemeteries; supporters typically cite convenience for families and planning certainty.

Who’s Against It

• No formal opposition is noted in the provided record. Potential concerns could include future federal costs for development and upkeep, environmental and traffic impacts, and the bill’s deadlines (which may limit VA flexibility if planning or reviews take longer than expected).

What’s Next

Status as of February 4, 2026: The bill was introduced on March 14, 2025; referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs the same day; sent to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs on January 30, 2026; and subcommittee hearings were held on February 3, 2026. Next likely steps are a subcommittee or full committee markup, potential House floor consideration, then Senate review. If both chambers pass the bill in identical form, it would go to the President for signature or veto.