I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4045 

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

veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 6, 2009 

Ms. BERKLEY (for herself, Mr. FILNER, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. 

HALL of New York, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. NYE, Mr. HARE, Mr. TEAGUE, 

Mr. SNYDER, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. ELLSWORTH, Mr. 

MOORE of Kansas, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. SPACE, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. WU, Mr. DRIEHAUS, Ms. TITUS, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. WATSON, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. ADLER of New Jersey, 

Mr. SCHAUER, Mr. MURPHY of New York, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of 

California, Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. 

MCNERNEY, Mr. CARDOZA, Mrs. MALONEY, Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, and Mr. SARBANES) introduced the 

following bill; which was 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 2009’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. INCREASE IN BURIAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS. 

2 (a) BURIAL AND FUNERAL EXPENSES.—(1) Section 

3 2302(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 

4 striking ‘‘$300’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,270 (as increased from 

5 time to time under section 5312(a) of this title)’’. 

6 (2) Section 2303(a)(1)(A) of such title is amended 

7 by striking ‘‘$300’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,270 (as increased 

8 from time to time under section 5312(a) of this title)’’. 

9 (3) Section 2307 of such title is amended by striking 

10 ‘‘$2,000,’’ and inserting ‘‘$4,100 (as increased from time 

11 to time under section 5312(a) of this title),’’. 

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

13 title is amended— 

14 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$300’’ and 

15 inserting ‘‘$745 (as increased from time to time 

16 under section 5312(a) of this title)’’; and 

17 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$300’’ the 

18 second place it appears and inserting ‘‘$745 (as in19 creased from time to time under section 5312(a) of 

20 this title)’’. 

21 (c) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT.—Section 5312(a) of such 

22 title is amended by striking ‘‘and each rate of monthly 

23 allowance paid under section 1805 of this title,’’ and in24 serting ‘‘each rate of monthly allowance paid under section 

25 1805 of this title, each rate of burial and funeral expenses 

26 provided for under sections 2302(a), 2303(a)(1)(A), and 


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1 2307 of this title, and each rate of plot allowance provided 

2 for under section 2303(b) of this title,’’. 

3 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—(1) Except as provided in 

4 paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall 

5 apply to deaths occurring on or after the date of the enact6 ment of this Act. 

7 (2) No adjustments shall be made under section 

8 5312(a) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by 

9 subsection (c), for fiscal year 2010 for rates of burial and 

10 funeral expenses provided for under sections 2302(a), 

11 2303(a)(1)(A), and 2307 of title 38, United States Code, 

12 and each rate of plot allowance provided for under section 

13 2303(b) of such title. 

Æ 


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