MANSFIELD - A Mansfield woman's quest to be buried next to her son who died in Iraq has cleared a major hurdle, gaining the approval of a key congressional committee.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee voted Wednesday in favor of "The Corey Shea Act," which U.S. Rep. Barney Frank has sponsored on behalf of Shea's mother, Denise Anderson.

Shea, 21, an Army specialist, was killed in the line of duty last year in Mosul, Iraq, when an Iraqi soldier turned his weapon on his American partners, killing two and wounding six.

Since her son's death, Anderson has made it her mission to be buried with her son in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, a right currently only extended to the spouses and minor children of veterans.

"I want to be there with him because I don't want him to be alone," Anderson said Thursday of her son, who was not married and had no children. The Corey Shea Act, which was approved by the committee as part of a large veterans' benefits bill, would grant parents of deceased veterans the right to be buried with their children if the veteran has no living spouse or minor children.

The legislation stipulates, however, that no deceased veteran should be displaced and covers only veterans who died in battle or in preparation for battle. It includes either biological or adoptive parents.

The bill received the full blessing of the veterans' committee one week after the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee gave its unanimous support.

Frank said the bill's fast-track status is a signal of the high importance fellow lawmakers have for the issue.

"The considerable speed with which the Corey Shea Act has moved forward in Congress is a testament both to the dedication of my colleagues and to that of Denise," Frank said in a statement. "I look forward to the full House passing this legislation soon."

Anderson said she appreciated of the efforts made by Frank and his staff, whom she said has kept her involved in every step of the process, including her Oct. 8 trip to Washington, D.C., to testify in front of a legislative subcommittee.

"I'm just grateful that people are looking into this and understand why I want to be buried with my son," she said.

The bill could come to a full House floor vote as early as next week, Frank's office said. The legislation would have to also be approved by the Senate before the president could sign it into law.

Anderson said she hopes the bill will pass, allowing her to go forward with her life and know that her son will not be alone for all eternity.

"I can move on and feel a sense of peace," she said. "I don't think I'm asking too much for what I lost." MATT KAKLEY covers Mansfield for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0333 or at mkakley@thesunchronicle.com.