I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2040

To provide for a comprehensive assessment of veterans’ cemeteries.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 8, 1999

Mr. STUMP (for himself, Mr. EVANS, Mr. QUINN, Mr. FILNER, Mr. EVERETT,

Ms. BROWN of Florida, and Mr. MCKEON) introduced the following bill;

which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To provide for a comprehensive assessment of veterans’

cemeteries.

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’ Cemeteries

5 Assessment Act of 1999’’.

6 SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT STUDY ON IMPROVEMENTS TO VET7 ERANS’ CEMETERIES.

8 (a) STUDY.—By not later than 180 days after the

9 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet10 erans Affairs shall enter into a contract with one or more
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1 qualified organizations to conduct a study of national

2 cemeteries described in subsection (b). For purposes of

3 this section, an entity of Federal, State, or local govern4 ment is not a qualified organization.

5 (b) MATTERS STUDIED.—(1) The study conducted

6 pursuant to the contract entered into under subsection (a)

7 shall include an assessment of each of the following:

8 (A) The one-time repairs required at each na9 tional cemetery under the jurisdiction of the Na10 tional Cemetery Administration of the Department

11 of Veterans Affairs, to ensure a dignified and re12 spectful setting appropriate to such cemetery, taking

13 into account the diversity of age, climate, and burial

14 options at individual national cemeteries.

15 (B) The feasibility of making standards of ap16 pearance of such national cemeteries commensurate

17 with standards of appearance of the finest ceme18 teries in the world.

19 (C) The number of additional national ceme20 teries that will be required for the interment and

21 memorialization in such cemeteries of individuals

22 qualified under chapter 24 of title 38, United States

23 Code, who die after 2010.

24 (D) Improvements to burial benefits under

25 chapter 23 of title 38, United States Code, including
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1 a proposal to increase the amount of the benefit for

2 plot allowances under section 2303(b) of such title,

3 to better serve veterans and their families.

4 (2) In presenting the assessment of additional na5 tional cemeteries required under paragraph (1)(C), the re6 port shall identify by five-year period, beginning with 2010

7 and ending with 2030, the following:

8 (A) The number of additional national ceme9 teries required during each five-year period.

10 (B) With respect to each five-year period, the

11 areas in the United States with the greatest con12 centration of veterans whose needs are not served by

13 national cemeteries or State veterans’ cemeteries.

14 (c) REPORT.—(1) By not later than one year after

15 the date that a qualified organization enters into a con16 tract under subsection (a), the organization shall submit

17 to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a report detailing the

18 results of the study conducted and conclusions of the orga19 nization with respect to such results.

20 (2) By not later than 120 days after the date a report

21 is submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Vet22 erans Affairs shall transmit to the Committees on Vet23 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
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1 Senate a copy of such report, together with any comments

2 on the report that the Secretary determines appropriate.

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