```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5455 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5455

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program for 
 the construction and renovation of committal shelters at State-owned 
             veterans' cemeteries, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 9, 2024

  Mr. Manchin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program for 
 the construction and renovation of committal shelters at State-owned 
             veterans' cemeteries, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hershel `Woody' Williams State 
Committal Shelter Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. COMMITTAL STRUCTURES AT STATE-OWNED VETERANS' CEMETERIES.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program for the 
construction or renovation of committal shelters at State-owned 
veterans' cemeteries to ensure attendees of burial services at such 
cemeteries are protected from inclement weather (in this section 
referred to as the ``program'').
    (b) Solicitation of Applications.--Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit 
applications from States for participation in the program.
    (c) Selection of Cemeteries.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall select, on a 
        competitive basis, three State-owned veterans' cemeteries for 
        participation in the program.
            (2) Criteria.--
                    (A) In general.--Each cemetery selected by the 
                Secretary for participation in the program shall be 
                located in an area with drastic variation in annual 
                temperature and weather patterns.
                    (B) Appalachia.--One cemetery selected by the 
                Secretary for participation in the program shall be 
                located in a State in which each county of that State 
                is served by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
            (3) Priority.--
                    (A) In general.--In selecting cemeteries for 
                participation in the program, the Secretary shall 
                prioritize cemeteries based on relative demonstrated 
                need, as determined by the Secretary.
                    (B) Considerations.--In making a determination 
                under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consider--
                            (i) the number of veterans' families served 
                        by a cemetery; and
                            (ii) the relative severity of weather at a 
                        cemetery.
    (d) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
program by entering into a cooperative agreement (as described in 
section 6305 of title 31, United States Code) with each cemetery 
selected for participation in the program.
    (e) Committal Shelters.--At each cemetery selected for 
participation in the program, the Secretary shall construct one or more 
new committal shelters, or renovate one or more existing committal 
shelters, so that each such shelter--
            (1) is fully enclosed; and
            (2) has heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and 
        restroom services necessary for hosting not more than 50 
        individuals.
    (f) Cost Share Requirement.--
            (1) In general.--The share of the cost of the construction 
        or renovation of a committal shelter under the program shall be 
        as follows:
                    (A) 50 percent Federal funds, subject to paragraph 
                (2).
                    (B) 50 percent funds provided by State or local 
                governments, nonprofit organizations, or private 
                entities.
            (2) Federal maximum.--
                    (A) In general.--Each cemetery participating in the 
                program shall receive not more than $2,000,000 in 
                Federal funds through the program.
                    (B) Total federal maximum.--The total Federal share 
                of the cost of construction and renovation of all 
                committal shelters under the program shall not exceed 
                $5,000,000.
    (g) Use of Funds.--Amounts obligated and expended by the Secretary 
under the program may be used for any activities that support the 
construction or renovation of committal shelters at cemeteries 
participating in the program, including costs associated with 
compliance with laws (including regulations).
    (h) Funding.--
            (1) Derivation of funds.--Amounts to carry out the program, 
        as provided in advance in appropriations Acts from amounts 
        specifically appropriated to carry out the purposes of this 
        Act, may be derived from amounts appropriated to carry out 
        section 2408 of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) Maintenance and upkeep.--The Federal Government shall 
        not be required to provide any amounts for the maintenance or 
        upkeep of any committal shelter after the termination of the 
        cooperative agreement concerned.
    (i) Regulations.--The Secretary shall revise regulations as 
necessary to carry out this section.
                                 <all>
```