II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2369 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the use of grant amounts 

awarded under the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program for construction 

of fully enclosed committal service shelters in certain State veterans’ 

cemeteries, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 31, 2019 

Mr. MANCHIN (for himself and Mr. ROMNEY) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 

use of grant amounts awarded under the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program for construction of fully enclosed 

committal service shelters in certain State veterans’ 

cemeteries, 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 ‘‘Department of Vet5 erans Affairs Committal Service Shelter Act of 2019’’. 


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•S 2369 IS

1 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS; FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 

2 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con3 gress that— 

4 (1) a committal service shelter should be a 

5 quiet, dignified shelter that provides protection from 

6 the wind, rain, and sun for an internment service in 

7 a solemn manner; and 

8 (2) such shelters should provide comfort for 

9 grieving families in all weather, especially during the 

10 heat of summer, middle of winter, and all types of 

11 storms. 

12 (b) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find13 ings: 

14 (1) As of the day before the date of the enact15 ment of this Act, the Department of Veterans Af16 fairs does not provide funding for construction of en17 closed committal service shelters under the Veterans 

18 Cometary Grants Program. 

19 (2) As of the day before the date of the enact20 ment of this Act, highly rural communities have few 

21 options for protection from inclement weather during 

22 funerals for veterans and open shelters hardly shield 

23 family and loved ones from extreme weather. 

24 (3) As of the day before the date of the enact25 ment of this Act, States with only one State vet26 erans’ cemetery funded by the Veterans Cemetery 


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•S 2369 IS

1 Grants Program have few options with respect to 

2 committal service shelters. 

3 (c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to author4 ize the use of grant amounts awarded under the Veterans 

5 Cemetery Grants Program for construction of fully en6 closed committal shelters in certain State veterans’ ceme7 teries. 

8 SEC. 3. CONSTRUCTION OF FULLY ENCLOSED COMMITTAL 

9 SERVICE SHELTERS IN STATE VETERANS’ 

10 CEMETERIES. 

11 Section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, is 

12 amended by adding at the end the following new sub13 section: 

14 ‘‘(g) A grant awarded under subsection (a)(1)(A) 

15 may be used for construction of a fully enclosed committal 

16 service shelter in a veterans’ cemetery owned by a State 

17 that— 

18 ‘‘(1) has one or fewer veterans’ cemeteries that 

19 are federally funded; and 

20 ‘‘(2) has one or fewer national cemeteries under 

21 the control of the National Cemetery Administration 

22 with space available to accommodate casketed or cre23 mated remains.’’. 

Æ 


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