The Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery is being pushed as a potential national cemetery to be maintained by the federal government.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said he got a provision included in an appropriations bill requiring the government to study building a national cemetery in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Idaho, or eastern Washington.

The Democrat said the cemetery in Laurel would be one of the sites considered. There is currently no national cemetery in the region.

The Senate bill passed on Monday, but still must be reconciled with a House version.

Located on 48 acres, the Yellowstone County Veterans' Cemetery opened last year after more than $1.6 million was spent on improvements. It has the potential capacity for over 10,000 burials.