The Veterans Affairs omnibus bill (see above) also contains a provision inserted by Sen. Larry Craig, (R-Idaho), chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to have the remains of double murderer Russell Wayne Wagner removed from Arlington National Cemetery. Wagner’s cremated remains had been placed at Arlington due to a loophole in a 1997 law prohibiting burial of veterans who have committed capital crimes in national cemeteries.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.