Gerald "Jerry" Elliott (Photo courtesy of family)

WASHINGTON, DC – Lawmakers from Michigan have introduced bipartisan legislation to keep in place a federal law that expanded veterans’ burial benefits, a move inspired by a Kingsford man’s case.

The Gerald’s Law Reauthorization of 2026 would extend this expanded benefit, set to expire in October, through 2030.

The law ensures terminally ill veterans are not prevented from receiving full Department of Veterans Affairs burial benefits if they pass away at a non-VA facility while receiving hospice care.

Previously, the VA was authorized to cover nearly $1,000 toward burial and funeral expenses only if a veteran died at a VA facility. Gerald’s Law updated this policy to ensure veterans aren’t penalized if they choose to spend their final days in the comfort of their homes or surrounded by loved ones, a news release from U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ office states.

The legislation is named after Army veteran Gerald “Jerry” Elliott, whose family was denied the benefit after he died Aug. 11, 2019, at his Kingsford home at age 86.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)

“Today, because of late Michigander Gerald Elliott’s story, our veterans can no longer be denied critical VA benefits if they choose to receive hospice care outside of a VA facility,” Peters said in the release. “Now it’s time to extend this 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.”

The idea for the legislation was brought to Peters and U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, by Denise Formolo, veteran service officer at Dickinson County Veteran Service office, after she learned Elliott’s family had been denied the burial benefits.

“It has been a great honor to collaborate with Senator Peters and Congressman Bergman on passage of ‘Gerald’s Law,’ which delivered a significant victory for our veterans and their families,” Formolo said in the news release. “I’m proud to stand alongside these lawmakers as they work to reauthorize this bill, which would protect a veterans’ option to spend their final days at home, surrounded by their loved ones, without the concern of losing burial benefits for their families.”

Peters introduced the bill with U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, and Bergman has introduced bipartisan companion legislation in the House.

Elliott worked for Wisconsin Electric for more than 37 years as a line crew foreman before retiring in 1994. He was a member of American Martyrs Catholic Church in Kingsford, the Elks and Lions Clubs, the Knights of Columbus and American Legion Post 363, where he served as a post commander, according to his 2019 obituary.

He volunteered at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, was instrumental in bringing the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Kingsford and was involved with Northwoods AirLifeline, the obituary stated.

The Gerald’s Law Act is also supported by American Veterans, or AMVETS; the Veterans of Foreign Wars; Paralyzed Veterans of America; The American Legion; Combined Arms; Disabled American Veterans; and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.