To expand the eligibility for headstones, markers, and medallions furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for deceased individuals who were awarded the Medal of Honor and are buried in private cemeteries, and for other purposes.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for headstones, markers, and medallions furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for deceased individuals who were awarded the Medal of Honor and are buried in private cemeteries. 1. Expansion of eligibility for headstones, markers, and medallions for medal of honor recipients Section 2306(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) (A) In carrying out this subsection with respect to a deceased individual described in subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall furnish, upon request, a headstone or marker under paragraph (1) or a medallion under paragraph (4) that signifies the deceased’s status as a Medal of Honor recipient. (B) If the Secretary furnished a headstone, marker, or medallion under paragraph (1) or (4) for a deceased individual described in subparagraph (C) that does not signify the deceased’s status as a Medal of Honor recipient, the Secretary shall, upon request, replace such headstone, marker, or medallion with a headstone, marker, or medallion, as the case may be, that so signifies the deceased’s status as a Medal of Honor recipient. (C) A deceased individual described in this subparagraph is a deceased individual who— (i) served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917; (ii) is eligible for a headstone or marker furnished under paragraph (1) or a medallion furnished under paragraph (4) (or would be so eligible for such headstone, marker, or medallion but for the date of the death of the individual); and (iii) was awarded the Medal of Honor (including posthumously). . 2. Expansion of Presidential Memorial Certificate program (a) In general Section 112(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after conditions, persons eligible for burial in a national cemetery by reason of paragraph (2), (3), or (7) of section 2402(a) of this title, (b) Application The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to the death of a person eligible for burial in a national cemetery by reason of paragraph (2), (3), or (7) of section 2402(a) of title 38, United States Code, occurring before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Transportation of deceased veterans to veterans’ cemeteries (a) In general Subsection (a) of section 2308 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) In General (1) The Secretary may pay, in addition to any amount paid pursuant to section 2302 or 2307 of this title, the cost of transportation of the deceased veteran described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) for burial in a national cemetery or a covered veterans’ cemetery. Such payment shall not exceed the cost of transportation to the national cemetery nearest the veteran’s last place of residence in which burial space is available. (2) The Secretary may pay, in addition to any amount paid pursuant to section 2302 or 2307 of this title, the cost of transportation of the deceased veteran described in subsection (b)(3) for burial in a national cemetery. Such payment shall not exceed the cost of transportation to the national cemetery nearest the veteran’s last place of residence in which burial space is available. . (b) Covered Veterans’ Cemetery Defined Section 2308 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Covered Veterans’ Cemetery Defined In this section, the term covered veterans’ cemetery . (c) Conforming Amendment Section 2308 of such title is amended in the section heading by adding at the end the following: or a veterans’ cemetery (d) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 23 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 2308 and inserting the following new item: 2308. Transportation of deceased veteran to a national cemetery or a veterans’ cemetery. . Amend the title so as to read: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand certain benefits related to the burial of deceased veterans, and for other purposes. November 14, 2016 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: (Sec. 1) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish at a private cemetery, and upon request, a headstone, marker, or medallion that signifies the status of an eligible veteran who served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917, as a Medal of Honor recipient. If the VA furnished a headstone, marker, or medallion for a deceased veteran that does not signify his or her status as a Medal of Honor recipient, the VA shall upon request replace that headstone, marker, or medallion with one that signifies the deceased's status as a Medal of Honor recipient. (Sec. 2) The bill authorizes award of the Presidential Memorial Certificate to certain deceased members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, the Air or Army National Guard, and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.