II 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2415 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for 

veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 15, 2006 

Ms. MIKULSKI 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 burial 

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 ‘‘Veterans Burial Bene5 fits Improvement Act of 2006’’. 

6 SEC. 2. INCREASE IN BURIAL AND FUNERAL BENEFITS FOR 

7 VETERANS. 

8 (a) INCREASE IN BURIAL AND FUNERAL EXPENSES

9 AND PROVISION FOR ANNUAL COST-OF-LIVING ADJUST10 MENT.— 


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•S 2415 IS

1 (1) EXPENSES GENERALLY.—Section 2302(a) 

2 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by strik3 ing ‘‘$300’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,135 (as increased 

4 from time to time under section 2309 of this title)’’. 

5 (2) EXPENSES FOR DEATHS IN DEPARTMENT

6 FACILITIES.—Section 2303(a)(1)(A) of such title is 

7 amended by striking ‘‘$300’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,135 

8 (as increased from time to time under section 2309 

9 of this title)’’. 

10 (3) EXPENSES FOR DEATHS FROM SERVICE11 CONNECTED DISABILITIES.—Section 2307 of such 

12 title is amended by striking ‘‘$2,000,’’ and inserting 

13 ‘‘$3,712 (as increased from time to time under sec14 tion 2309 of this title),’’. 

15 (b) PLOT ALLOWANCE.—Section 2303(b) of such 

16 title is amended— 

17 (1) by striking ‘‘$300’’ the first place it appears 

18 and inserting ‘‘$670 (as increased from time to time 

19 under section 2309 of this title)’’; and 

20 (2) by striking ‘‘$300’’ the second place it ap21 pears and inserting ‘‘$670 (as so increased)’’. 

22 (c) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 23 of such title is 

24 amended by adding at the end the following new sec25 tion: 


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1 ‘‘§ 2309. Annual adjustment of amounts of burial ben2 efits 

3 ‘‘With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall 

4 provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dol5 lar) in the burial and funeral expenses under sections 

6 2302(a), 2303(a), and 2307 of this title, and in the plot 

7 allowance under section 2303(b) of this title, equal to the 

8 percentage by which— 

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

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

11 ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of 

12 the fiscal year for which the increase is made, ex13 ceeds 

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

15 month period preceding the 12-month period de16 scribed in paragraph (1).’’. 

17 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec18 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

19 by adding at the end the following new item: 

‘‘2309. Annual adjustment of amounts of burial benefits.’’. 

20 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para22 graph (2), the amendments made by this section 

23 shall apply to deaths occurring on or after the date 

24 of the enactment of this Act. 


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•S 2415 IS

1 (2) PROHIBITION ON COST-OF-LIVING ADJUST2 MENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007.—No adjustments 

3 shall be made under section 2309 of title 38, United 

4 States Code, as added by subsection (c), for fiscal 

5 year 2007. 

Æ 


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