PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 126 STAT. 2417 

Public Law 112–260 

112th Congress 

An Act 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that deceased veterans with 

no known next of kin can receive a dignified burial, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Dignified 

Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 

is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Scoring of budgetary effects. 

TITLE I—CEMETERY MATTERS 

Sec. 101. Furnishing caskets and urns for deceased veterans with no known next 

of kin. 

Sec. 102. Veterans freedom of conscience protection. 

Sec. 103. Improved communication between Department of Veterans Affairs and 

medical examiners and funeral directors. 

Sec. 104. Identification and burial of unclaimed or abandoned human remains. 

Sec. 105. Exclusion of persons convicted of committing certain sex offenses from interment or memorialization in national cemeteries, Arlington National 

Cemetery, and certain State veterans’ cemeteries and from receiving 

certain funeral honors. 

Sec. 106. Restoration, operation, and maintenance of Clark Veterans Cemetery by 

American Battle Monuments Commission. 

Sec. 107. Report on compliance of Department of Veterans Affairs with industry 

standards for caskets and urns. 

TITLE II—HEALTH CARE 

Sec. 201. Establishment of open burn pit registry. 

Sec. 202. Transportation of beneficiaries to and from facilities of Department of 

Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 203. Extension of reduced pension for certain veterans covered by medicaid 

plans for services furnished by nursing facilities. 

Sec. 204. Extension of report requirement for Special Committee on Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder. 

TITLE III—OTHER MATTERS 

Sec. 301. Off-base transition training for veterans and their spouses. 

Sec. 302. Requirement that judges on United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 

Claims reside within 50 miles of District of Columbia. 

Sec. 303. Designation of Trinka Davis Veterans Village. 

Sec. 304. Designation of William ‘‘Bill’’ Kling Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic. 

Sec. 305. Designation of Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 

Center. 

Sec. 306. Designation of David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic. 

Dignified Burial 

and Other 

Veterans’ 

Benefits 

Improvement Act 

of 2012. 

38 USC 101 note. 

Jan. 10, 2013 

[S. 3202] 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
126 STAT. 2418 PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 

SEC. 2. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 

with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall be determined 

by reference to the latest statement titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of 

PAYGO Legislation’’ for this Act, submitted for printing in the 

Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior 

to the vote on passage. 

TITLE I—CEMETERY MATTERS 

SEC. 101. FURNISHING CASKETS AND URNS FOR DECEASED VETERANS 

WITH NO KNOWN NEXT OF KIN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections 

(g) and (h), respectively; 

(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection (f): 

‘‘(f) The Secretary may furnish a casket or urn, of such quality 

as the Secretary considers appropriate for a dignified burial, for 

burial in a national cemetery of a deceased veteran in any case 

in which the Secretary— 

‘‘(1) is unable to identify the veteran’s next of kin, if any; 

and 

‘‘(2) determines that sufficient resources for the furnishing 

of a casket or urn for the burial of the veteran in a national 

cemetery are not otherwise available.’’; and 

(3) in subsection (h), as redesignated by paragraph (1), 

by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

‘‘(4) A casket or urn may not be furnished under subsection 

(f) for burial of a person described in section 2411(b) of this title.’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (f) and (h)(4) of section 2306 

of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall 

take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the 

enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the date that is one year after the date of the 

enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 102. VETERANS FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE PROTECTION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2404 of title 38, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(h)(1) With respect to the interment or funeral, memorial 

service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery, 

the Secretary shall ensure that— 

‘‘(A) the expressed wishes of the next of kin or other agent 

of the deceased veteran are respected and given appropriate 

deference when evaluating whether the proposed interment 

or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony affects the safety 

and security of the national cemetery and visitors to the cemetery; 

‘‘(B) to the extent possible, all appropriate public areas 

of the cemetery, including committal shelters, chapels, and 

benches, may be used by the family of the deceased veteran 

for contemplation, prayer, mourning, or reflection; and 

Applicability. 

38 USC 2306 

note. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 126 STAT. 2419 

‘‘(C) during such interment or funeral, memorial service, 

or ceremony, the family of the deceased veteran may display 

any religious or other symbols chosen by the family. 

‘‘(2) Subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 

paragraph (4), including such regulations ensuring the security 

of a national cemetery, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 

practicable, provide to any military or volunteer veterans honor 

guard, including such guards belonging to a veterans service 

organization or other nongovernmental group that provides services 

to veterans, access to public areas of a national cemetery if such 

access is requested by the next of kin or other agent of a deceased 

veteran whose interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony 

is being held in such cemetery. 

‘‘(3) With respect to the interment or funeral, memorial service, 

or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery, the 

Secretary shall notify the next of kin or other agent of the deceased 

veteran of funeral honors available to the deceased veteran, 

including such honors provided by any military or volunteer veterans honor guard described in paragraph (2). 

‘‘(4) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this 

subsection.’’. 

(b) INTERIM IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary may carry out 

paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 2404(h) of such title, as added 

by subsection (a), before the Secretary prescribes regulations pursuant to paragraph (4) of such section, as so added. 

(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 

to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

on the implementation of section 2404(h) of such title, as added 

by subsection (a). Such report shall include a certification of whether 

the Secretary is in compliance with all of the provisions of such 

section. 

SEC. 103. IMPROVED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF 

VETERANS AFFAIRS AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND 

FUNERAL DIRECTORS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

‘‘§ 2414. Communication between Department of Veterans 

Affairs and medical examiners and funeral directors 

‘‘(a) REQUIRED INFORMATION.—With respect to each deceased 

veteran described in subsection (b) who is transported to a national 

cemetery for burial, the Secretary shall ensure that the local medical 

examiner, funeral director, county service group, or other entity 

responsible for the body of the deceased veteran before such 

transportation submits to the Secretary the following information: 

‘‘(1) Whether the deceased veteran was cremated. 

‘‘(2) The steps taken to ensure that the deceased veteran 

has no next of kin. 

‘‘(b) DECEASED VETERAN DESCRIBED.—A deceased veteran 

described in this subsection is a deceased veteran— 

‘‘(1) with respect to whom the Secretary determines that 

there is no next of kin or other person claiming the body 

of the deceased veteran; and 

38 USC 2414. 

Certification. 

38 USC 2404 

note. 

Regulations. 

Notification. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
126 STAT. 2420 PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 

‘‘(2) who does not have sufficient resources for the furnishing of a casket or urn for the burial of the deceased veteran 

in a national cemetery, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 

to section 2413 the following new item: 

‘‘2414. Communication between Department of Veterans Affairs and medical examiners and funeral directors.’’. 

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 2414 of title 38, United States 

Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date 

of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to deaths 

occurring on or after the date that is 180 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 104. IDENTIFICATION AND BURIAL OF UNCLAIMED OR ABANDONED HUMAN REMAINS. 

(a) IDENTIFICATION OF UNCLAIMED OR ABANDONED HUMAN

REMAINS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall cooperate with 

veterans service organizations to assist entities in possession of 

unclaimed or abandoned human remains in determining if any 

such remains are the remains of veterans or other individuals 

eligible for burial in a national cemetery under the jurisdiction 

of the Secretary. 

(b) BURIAL OF UNCLAIMED OR ABANDONED HUMAN REMAINS.— (1) FUNERAL EXPENSES.—Section 2302(a)(2) of title 38, 

United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘who was a veteran 

of any war or was discharged or released from the active 

military, naval, or air service for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, whose body is held by a State (or a 

political subdivision of a State), and’’. 

(2) TRANSPORTATION COSTS.—Section 2308 of such title is 

amended— 

(A) by striking ‘‘Where a veteran’’ and all that follows 

through ‘‘compensation, the’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) IN GEN- ERAL.—The’’; 

(B) in subsection (a), as designated by subparagraph 

(A), by inserting ‘‘described in subsection (b)’’ after ‘‘of 

the deceased veteran’’; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(b) DECEASED VETERAN DESCRIBED.—A deceased veteran 

described in this subsection is any of the following veterans: 

‘‘(1) A veteran who dies as the result of a service-connected 

disability. 

‘‘(2) A veteran who dies while in receipt of disability compensation (or who but for the receipt of retirement pay or 

pension under this title, would have been entitled to compensation). 

‘‘(3) A veteran whom the Secretary determines is eligible 

for funeral expenses under section 2302 of this title by virtue 

of the Secretary determining that the veteran has no next 

of kin or other person claiming the body of such veteran pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(A) of such section.’’. 

(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date that is one year after 

the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with 

respect to burials and funerals occurring on or after the date 

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

Applicability. 

38 USC 2302 

note. 

38 USC 2402 

note. 

Applicability. 

38 USC 2414 

note. 

38 USC prec. 

2400. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 126 STAT. 2421 

SEC. 105. EXCLUSION OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF COMMITTING CERTAIN SEX OFFENSES FROM INTERMENT OR MEMORIALIZATION IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES, ARLINGTON NATIONAL 

CEMETERY, AND CERTAIN STATE VETERANS’ CEMETERIES 

AND FROM RECEIVING CERTAIN FUNERAL HONORS. 

(a) PROHIBITION AGAINST.—Section 2411(b) of title 38, United 

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 

paragraph: 

‘‘(4) A person— 

‘‘(A) who has been convicted of a Federal or State 

crime causing the person to be a tier III sex offender 

for purposes of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.); 

‘‘(B) who, for such crime, is sentenced to a minimum 

of life imprisonment; and 

‘‘(C) whose conviction is final (other than a person 

whose sentence was commuted by the President or Governor of a State, as the case may be).’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 2411(a)(2) of such title 

is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘or (b)(2)’’ each place it appears and inserting 

‘‘, (b)(2), or (b)(4)’’; and 

(2) by striking ‘‘capital’’ each place it appears. 

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 

shall apply with respect to interments and memorializations that 

occur on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 106. RESTORATION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF CLARK 

VETERANS CEMETERY BY AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—After an agreement is made between the 

Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the United 

States Government, Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Republic of 

the Philippines shall be treated, for purposes of section 2104 of 

title 36, United States Code, as a cemetery for which it was decided 

under such section that the cemetery will become a permanent 

cemetery and the American Battle Monuments Commission shall 

restore, operate, and maintain Clark Veterans Cemetery (to the 

degree the Commission considers appropriate) under such section 

in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. 

(b) LIMITATION ON FUTURE BURIALS.—Burials at the cemetery 

described in subsection (a) after the date of the agreement described 

in such subsection shall be limited to eligible veterans, as determined by the Commission, whose burial does not incur any cost 

to the Commission. 

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Commission— 

(1) $5,000,000 for site preparation, design, planning, 

construction, and associated administrative costs for the restoration of the cemetery described in subsection (a); and 

(2) amounts necessary to operate and maintain the cemetery described in subsection (a). 

Contracts. 

36 USC 2104 

note. 

Philippines. 

Applicability. 

38 USC 2411 

note. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
126 STAT. 2422 PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 

SEC. 107. REPORT ON COMPLIANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR CASKETS AND 

URNS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 

a report on the compliance of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

with industry standards for caskets and urns. 

(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 

include the following: 

(1) A description of industry standards for caskets and 

urns. 

(2) An assessment of compliance with such standards at 

national cemeteries administered by the Department with 

respect to caskets and urns used for the interment of those 

eligible for burial at such cemeteries. 

TITLE II—HEALTH CARE 

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF REGISTRY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

shall— 

(A) establish and maintain an open burn pit registry 

for eligible individuals who may have been exposed to 

toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn 

pits; 

(B) include any information in such registry that the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines necessary to 

ascertain and monitor the health effects of the exposure 

of members of the Armed Forces to toxic airborne chemicals 

and fumes caused by open burn pits; 

(C) develop a public information campaign to inform 

eligible individuals about the open burn pit registry, 

including how to register and the benefits of registering; 

and 

(D) periodically notify eligible individuals of significant 

developments in the study and treatment of conditions 

associated with exposure to toxic airborne chemicals and 

fumes caused by open burn pits. 

(2) COORDINATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

coordinate with the Secretary of Defense in carrying out paragraph (1). 

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

(1) REPORTS BY INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION.— 

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into an agreement 

with an independent scientific organization to prepare reports 

as follows: 

(A) Not later than two years after the date on which 

the registry under subsection (a) is established, an initial 

report containing the following: 

(i) An assessment of the effectiveness of actions 

taken by the Secretaries to collect and maintain 

information on the health effects of exposure to toxic 

Assessment. 

Contracts. 

Notification. 

Deadline. 

38 USC 527 note. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 126 STAT. 2423 

airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn 

pits. 

(ii) Recommendations to improve the collection and 

maintenance of such information. 

(iii) Using established and previously published 

epidemiological studies, recommendations regarding 

the most effective and prudent means of addressing 

the medical needs of eligible individuals with respect 

to conditions that are likely to result from exposure 

to open burn pits. 

(B) Not later than five years after completing the initial 

report described in subparagraph (A), a follow-up report 

containing the following: 

(i) An update to the initial report described in 

subparagraph (A). 

(ii) An assessment of whether and to what degree 

the content of the registry established under subsection 

(a) is current and scientifically up-to-date. 

(2) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.— 

(A) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than two years after 

the date on which the registry under subsection (a) is 

established, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 

to Congress the initial report prepared under paragraph 

(1)(A). 

(B) FOLLOW-UP REPORT.—Not later than five years after 

submitting the report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress the 

follow-up report prepared under paragraph (1)(B). 

(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘eligible individual’’ 

means any individual who, on or after September 11, 2001— 

(A) was deployed in support of a contingency operation 

while serving in the Armed Forces; and 

(B) during such deployment, was based or stationed 

at a location where an open burn pit was used. 

(2) OPEN BURN PIT.—The term ‘‘open burn pit’’ means an 

area of land located in Afghanistan or Iraq that— 

(A) is designated by the Secretary of Defense to be 

used for disposing solid waste by burning in the outdoor 

air; and 

(B) does not contain a commercially manufactured 

incinerator or other equipment specifically designed and 

manufactured for the burning of solid waste. 

SEC. 202. TRANSPORTATION OF BENEFICIARIES TO AND FROM FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 38, United States Code, 

is amended by inserting after section 111 the following new section: 

‘‘§ 111A. Transportation of individuals to and from Department facilities 

‘‘(a) TRANSPORTATION BY SECRETARY.—(1) The Secretary may 

transport any person to or from a Department facility or other 

place in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling 

required by the Secretary pursuant to chapter 34 or 35 of this 

title, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care. 

38 USC 111A. 

Assessment. 

Recommendations. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
126 STAT. 2424 PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 

‘‘(2) The authority granted by paragraph (1) shall expire on 

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

section.’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (h) of section 111 

of such title is— 

(1) transferred to section 111A of such title, as added 

by subsection (a); 

(2) redesignated as subsection (b); 

(3) inserted after subsection (a) of such section; and 

(4) amended by inserting ‘‘TRANSPORTATION BY THIRD-PAR- TIES.—’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’. 

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1 of such title is amended by inserting after the 

item relating to section 111 the following new item: 

‘‘111A. Transportation of individuals to and from Department facilities.’’. 

SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF REDUCED PENSION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 

COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS FOR SERVICES FURNISHED 

BY NURSING FACILITIES. 

Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 

by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘November 30, 

2016’’. 

SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF REPORT REQUIREMENT FOR SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON POST-TRAUMATIC-STRESS DISORDER. 

Section 110(e)(2) of the Veterans’ Health Care Act of 1984 

(Public Law 98–528; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by striking 

‘‘through 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘through 2016’’. 

TITLE III—OTHER MATTERS 

SEC. 301. OFF-BASE TRANSITION TRAINING FOR VETERANS AND THEIR 

SPOUSES. 

(a) PROVISION OF OFF-BASE TRANSITION TRAINING.—During the 

two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary of Labor shall provide the Transition Assistance 

Program under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, to 

eligible individuals at locations other than military installations 

to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing such program 

to eligible individuals at locations other than military installations. 

(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this section, an 

eligible individual is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran. 

(c) LOCATIONS.— 

(1) NUMBER OF STATES.—The Secretary shall carry out 

the training under subsection (a) in not less than three and 

not more than five States selected by the Secretary for purposes 

of this section. 

(2) SELECTION OF STATES WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT.— 

Of the States selected by the Secretary under paragraph (1), 

at least two shall be States with high rates of unemployment 

among veterans. 

(3) NUMBER OF LOCATIONS IN EACH STATE.—The Secretary 

shall provide training under subsection (a) to eligible individuals at a sufficient number of locations within each State 

selected under this subsection to meet the needs of eligible 

individuals in such State. 

Time period. 

Effective date. 

10 USC 1144 

note. 

38 USC 101 prec. 

38 USC 111A. 

38 USC 111, 

111A. 

Expiration date. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 126 STAT. 2425 

(4) SELECTION OF LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall select 

locations for the provision of training under subsection (a) 

to facilitate access by participants and may not select any 

location on a military installation other than a National Guard 

or reserve facility that is not located on an active duty military 

installation. 

(d) INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ABOUT VETERANS BENEFITS.— 

The Secretary shall ensure that the training provided under subsection (a) generally follows the content of the Transition Assistance 

Program under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code. 

(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than March 1 of any year 

during which the Secretary provides training under subsection (a), 

the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the provision 

of such training. 

(f) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 

after the termination of the one-year period described in subsection 

(a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 

to Congress a report on the training provided under such subsection. 

The report shall include the evaluation of the Comptroller General 

regarding the feasibility and advisability of carrying out off-base 

transition training at locations nationwide. 

SEC. 302. REQUIREMENT THAT JUDGES ON UNITED STATES COURT 

OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS RESIDE WITHIN 50 

MILES OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

(a) RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 7255 is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘§ 7255. Offices, duty stations, and residences 

‘‘(a) PRINCIPAL OFFICE.—The principal office of the Court of 

Appeals for Veterans Claims shall be in the Washington, D.C., 

metropolitan area, but the Court may sit at any place within 

the United States. 

‘‘(b) OFFICIAL DUTY STATIONS.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the official duty station of each judge while in active 

service shall be the principal office of the Court of Appeals for 

Veterans Claims. 

‘‘(2) The place where a recall-eligible retired judge maintains 

the actual abode in which such judge customarily lives shall be 

considered the recall-eligible retired judge’s official duty station. 

‘‘(c) RESIDENCES.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), after 

appointment and while in active service, each judge of the Court 

of Appeals for Veterans Claims shall reside within 50 miles of 

the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. 

‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to recall-eligible retired 

judges of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.’’. 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 

beginning of chapter 72 is amended by striking the item relating 

to section 7255 and inserting the following new item: 

‘‘7255. Offices, duty stations, and residences.’’. 

(b) REMOVAL.—Section 7253(f)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘or 

engaging in the practice of law’’ and inserting ‘‘engaging in the 

practice of law, or violating section 7255(c) of this title’’. 

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 38 USC 7255 

note. 

38 USC 7251 

prec. 

38 USC 7255. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
126 STAT. 2426 PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (c) of section 7255, as added 

by subsection (a), and the amendment made by subsection 

(b) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act. 

(2) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by subsection 

(b) shall apply with respect to judges confirmed on or after 

January 1, 2012. 

SEC. 303. DESIGNATION OF TRINKA DAVIS VETERANS VILLAGE. 

(a) DESIGNATION.—The facility of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs located at 180 Martin Drive in Carrollton, Georgia, shall 

after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated 

as the ‘‘Trinka Davis Veterans Village’’. 

(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 

document, record, or other paper of the United States to the facility 

referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference 

to the ‘‘Trinka Davis Veterans Village’’. 

SEC. 304. DESIGNATION OF WILLIAM ‘‘BILL’’ KLING DEPARTMENT OF 

VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINIC. 

(a) DESIGNATION.—The facility of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs located at 9800 West Commercial Boulevard in Sunrise, 

Florida, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known 

and designated as the ‘‘William ‘Bill’ Kling Department of Veterans 

Affairs Outpatient Clinic’’. 

(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 

document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility 

referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference 

to the ‘‘William ‘Bill’ Kling Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic’’. 

SEC. 305. DESIGNATION OF MANN-GRANDSTAFF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER. 

(a) DESIGNATION.—The Department of Veterans Affairs medical 

center in Spokane, Washington, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ‘‘Mann-Grandstaff 

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’’. 

(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 

document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center referred to in subsection 

(a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘‘Mann-Grandstaff 

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’’. 

SEC. 306. DESIGNATION OF DAVID F. WINDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC. 

(a) DESIGNATION.—The Department of Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic located in Mansfield, Ohio, shall after 

the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated 

as the ‘‘David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community 

Based Outpatient Clinic’’. 

(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 

document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Department of Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic referred 

to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 

Ohio. 

Washington. 

Florida. 

Georgia. 

38 USC 7253 

note. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS
PUBLIC LAW 112–260—JAN. 10, 2013 126 STAT. 2427 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3202: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012): 

Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate. 

Dec. 30, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

‘‘David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community 

Based Outpatient Clinic’’. 

Approved January 10, 2013. 


dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with PUBLIC LAWS