(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., ranking member and chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, respectively, today released the following statement regarding the positive news from Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy regarding their recent calls to restore inurnment eligibility at Arlington National Cemetery for the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots and other active duty designees:

“We are pleased that the Army will support legislation to make active-duty designees eligible for above-ground inurnment in Arlington National Cemetery, and we look forward to working with the Secretary of the Army to finalize the necessary legislation. The Women’s Air Force Service Pilots and Merchant Marines, among other active duty designee groups, served honorably, and Acting Secretary Murphy rightly recognizes their service and sacrifice to our country in his response.”

Click here for Acting Secretary Murphy’s full response to the February 10, 2016, letter signed by 24 senators, including Blumenthal and Isakson.  

The committee hopes to include legislation to restore inurnment rights to active duty designees in a forthcoming omnibus bill.

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