I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 174 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery 

for veterans in the southern Colorado region. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 6, 2009 

Mr. SALAZAR (for himself and Mr. LAMBORN) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a 

national cemetery for veterans in the southern Colorado 

region. 

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

3 SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CEMETERY IN 

4 SOUTHERN COLORADO REGION. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

6 shall establish, in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, 

7 United States Code, a national cemetery in El Paso Counmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

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1 ty, Colorado, to serve the needs of veterans and their fami2 lies in the southern Colorado region. 

3 (b) CONSULTATION IN SELECTION OF SITE.—Before 

4 selecting the site for the national cemetery established 

5 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with— 

6 (1) appropriate officials of the State of Colo7 rado and local officials in the southern Colorado re8 gion; and 

9 (2) appropriate officials of the United States, 

10 including the Administrator of General Services, 

11 with respect to land belonging to the United States 

12 in El Paso County, Colorado, that would be suitable 

13 to establish the national cemetery under subsection 

14 (a). 

15 (c) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT DONATION OF PARCEL

16 OF LAND.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

18 Affairs may accept on behalf of the United States 

19 the gift of an appropriate parcel of real property. 

20 The Secretary shall have administrative jurisdiction 

21 over such parcel of real property, and shall use such 

22 parcel to establish the national cemetery under sub23 section (a). 

24 (2) INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF GIFT.—For 

25 purposes of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, 

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1 the real property accepted under paragraph (1) shall 

2 be considered as a gift to the United States. 

3 (d) REPORT.—As soon as practicable after the date 

4 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

5 to Congress a report on the establishment of the national 

6 cemetery under subsection (a). The report shall set forth 

7 a schedule for such establishment and an estimate of the 

8 costs associated with such establishment. 

9 (e) RELATIONSHIP TO CONSTRUCTION AND FIVE

10 YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.—The requirement to establish a 

11 national cemetery under subsection (a) shall be added to 

12 the current list of priority projects, but should not take 

13 priority over existing projects listed on the National Ceme14 tery Administration’s construction and five-year capital 

15 plan for fiscal year 2008. 

16 (f) SOUTHERN COLORADO REGION DEFINED.—In 

17 this Act, the term ‘‘southern Colorado region’’ means the 

18 geographic region consisting of the following Colorado 

19 counties: 

20 (1) El Paso. 

21 (2) Pueblo. 

22 (3) Teller. 

23 (4) Fremont. 

24 (5) Las Animas. 

25 (6) Huerfano. 

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1 (7) Custer. 

2 (8) Costilla. 

3 (9) Alamosa. 

4 (10) Saguache. 

5 (11) Conejos. 

6 (12) Mineral. 

7 (13) Archuleta. 

8 (14) Hinsdale. 

9 (15) Gunnison. 

10 (16) Pitkin. 

11 (17) La Plata. 

12 (18) Montezuma. 

13 (19) San Juan. 

14 (20) Ouray. 

15 (21) San Miguel. 

16 (22) Dolores. 

17 (23) Montrose. 

18 (24) Delta. 

19 (25) Mesa. 

20 (26) Crowley. 

21 (27) Kiowa. 

22 (28) Bent. 

23 (29) Baca. 

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