Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) participated in a press conference with several community leaders to tout federal funding for a new veterans' cemetery in Augusta, Georgia. With Congressman Allen's support, the funding for this project was appropriated via H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2026, and made available through the Veterans Cemetery Grant Program.
The grant opportunity will provide up to $10 million in federal funding to support the construction of a new veterans cemetery in the Augusta area. The grant will allow Georgia to expand burial options for the over 66,000 veterans and their eligible family members in East Central Georgia, ensuring dignified, accessible, and lasting honors for those who served.
Congressman Allen touts federal funding for Augusta VA Cemetery to crowd of local veterans, residents, and leaders
Following the press conference, Congressman Allen issued the statement below:
"As the home to thousands of veterans, service members, and military families, I have fought for several years to bring a veterans' cemetery to Augusta, Georgia. Our veterans who reside in the CSRA and surrounding communities should have reasonable access to burial benefits close to home. The construction of this cemetery will deliver just that and has long been supported by local leaders, veterans, and elected officials. After years of work, I am pleased that we are officially moving forward with this project for those who answered the call to serve our nation in uniform. I would also like to thank Former Augusta Mayor Bob Young and Augusta Commissioner Don Clark for their tireless advocacy on behalf of veterans in this community."
BACKGROUND: The Georgia Department of Veterans Service's application for a new veterans' cemetery in Augusta, Georgia, has been reviewed and accepted by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This development is a monumental achievement in a process that Congressman Allen, local community leaders, and the state of Georgia have been working towards for several years. The funding for this project was included in H.R. 5371, which Congressman Allen supported on the House floor, and was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on November 12, 2025.
