II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 598 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase certain funeral benefits 

for veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 28, 2019 

Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. RUBIO) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase certain 

funeral benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Burial Rights for 

5 America’s Veterans’ Efforts Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘BRAVE 

6 Act of 2019’’. 


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•S 598 IS

1 SEC. 2. INCREASE TO CERTAIN FUNERAL BENEFITS UNDER 

2 LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF 

3 VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

4 (a) FUNERAL EXPENSES.—Section 2302(a) of title 

5 38, United States Code, is amended— 

6 (1) in the matter after paragraph (2)(B), by 

7 striking ‘‘$300’’ and inserting ‘‘$780 (as increased 

8 from time to time under subsection (c))’’; and 

9 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub10 section: 

11 ‘‘(c) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary 

12 shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the near13 est dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral 

14 expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the per15 centage by which— 

16 ‘‘(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, 

17 United States city average) for the 12-month period 

18 ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of 

19 the fiscal year for which the increase is made, ex20 ceeds 

21 ‘‘(2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12- 

22 month period preceding the 12-month period de23 scribed in paragraph (1).’’. 

24 (b) DEATH FROM SERVICE-CONNECTED DIS25 ABILITY.—Section 2307 of such title is amended— 


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•S 598 IS

1 (1) by striking ‘‘In any case’’ and inserting the 

2 following: 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In any case’’; 

4 (2) in subsection (a), as designated by para5 graph (1), by striking ‘‘$2,000’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘$2,000 (as increased from time to time under sub7 section (b))’’; and 

8 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub9 section: 

10 ‘‘(b) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary 

11 shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the near12 est dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral 

13 expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the per14 centage by which— 

15 ‘‘(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, 

16 United States city average) for the 12-month period 

17 ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of 

18 the fiscal year for which the increase is made, ex19 ceeds 

20 ‘‘(2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12- 

21 month period preceding the 12-month period de22 scribed in paragraph (1).’’. 

23 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

24 this Act shall apply to deaths that occur after the date 


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•S 598 IS

1 that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 

2 Act. 

Æ 


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