I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 497 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs to increase certain veteran funeral benefits, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 11, 2019 

Mr. HUNTER (for himself, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. 

GAETZ, Mr. JONES, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. BUSTOS, Ms. KUSTER of New 

Hampshire, and Mr. DEFAZIO) introduced the following bill; which was 

referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase certain veteran 

funeral benefits, 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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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) by striking ‘‘$300’’ and inserting ‘‘$780 (as 

7 increased from time to time under subsection (c))’’; 

8 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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1 (1) by striking ‘‘In any case’’ and inserting the 

2 following: 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In any case’’; 

4 (2) by striking ‘‘$2,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$2,000 

5 (as increased from time to time under subsection 

6 (b))’’; and 

7 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub8 section: 

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

10 shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the near11 est dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral 

12 expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the per13 centage by which— 

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

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

16 ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of 

17 the fiscal year for which the increase is made, ex18 ceeds 

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

20 month period preceding the 12-month period de21 scribed in paragraph (1).’’. 

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

23 this Act shall apply to deaths that occur after the day that 

24 is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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