Congressman Andy Biggs, who represents Arizona’s 5th district in the U.S. Congress, has introduced three bills aimed at improving support for veterans and their families. The legislation focuses on reforming existing systems to enhance care, accountability, and dignity for those who have served in the military.
The Veterans’ Cremation Certainty Act seeks to address financial and emotional challenges faced by military families by allowing veterans to pre-designate direct cremation as part of their VA burial benefits. Under this bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would extend its current pre-approval process—previously limited to burials—to include cremation services. This change would enable the VA to pay cremation providers directly, potentially reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket costs for families.
Another measure, the HSAs for Heroes Act, would permit all veterans to open and use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) while keeping their VA benefits intact. The bill also expands eligible expenses covered by HSAs to include caregiving costs, building on provisions from Congressman Biggs’s Freedom for Families Act.
The third piece of legislation is the Claims Legitimacy and Evaluation Accountability Nationwide for VA (CLEAN VA) Act. This bill aims to strengthen oversight within the Department of Veterans Affairs by enforcing time-limited disciplinary processes and streamlining appeals related to misconduct. It also proposes increased penalties for fraud and abuse, expanded protections for whistleblowers with disclosure rewards, integration of artificial intelligence tools to detect fraud vulnerabilities in disability determinations, and mandatory annual training under Inspector General supervision.
“This Veterans Day, Congress must recommit to honoring our nation’s heroes not just in word, but in deed,” said Congressman Biggs.
“Veterans deserve more than speeches and ceremonies — they deserve action. These bills deliver meaningful reforms that ease financial burdens, expand healthcare freedom, and hold the VA accountable to the men and women it serves. We owe our veterans the dignity of a government that keeps its word, honors their sacrifices, and works as hard for them as they did for us.”
Andy Biggs has represented Arizona’s 5th District since 2017 after previously serving in the Arizona Senate from 2013 to 2017. He was born in Tucson in 1958 and currently lives in Gilbert. Biggs earned his BA from Brigham Young University in 1982 and a JD from the University of Arizona in 1984.
