Manatee Review

Congressman Vern Buchanan has introduced the Honoring Our Heroes with Dignity Act (H.R. 10301) to mandate the resumption of horse-drawn funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery. This program, aimed at honoring fallen service members, was suspended in 2023 due to concerns about the welfare and deaths of horses involved in these ceremonies.

Buchanan stated, "Those who have selflessly served our country in uniform and are being laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery deserve a proper, honorable burial." He added that he hopes Congress will include this legislation in the final version of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act to resume these services promptly.

The proposed bill requires the Secretary of the Army to restart these services within 60 days of enactment and mandates monthly reports to Congress on funerals delayed due to the suspension.

This legislation aligns with language first introduced by Senator Tom Cotton, which is part of the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. Senator Cotton remarked, “The families of American heroes should not have to wait indefinitely for their loved ones to be buried with the honors they earned and deserve.”

In 2022, two horses from Arlington's Caisson Platoon died from colon impaction, reportedly due to inadequate living conditions. Following this incident, Buchanan sought an investigation by the Government Accountability Office into potential maltreatment.

As co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus in Congress, Buchanan advocates for animal protection laws. His efforts include introducing measures like the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act and successfully passing the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act into law.