VA has more than doubled the acreage available in federal veterans cemeteries since 1973 and the burial rate at these cemeteries has also increased by more than 100 percent. Smaller cities and rural areas located beyond these 75-mile service areas are ideal locations for state veterans cemeteries. In fiscal year 1999, nearly 13,400 veterans and eligible family members received the benefit of burial in one of these state veterans cemeteries. Currently, the State Cemetery Grants Program is authorized through fiscal year 2004. Federal funds are appropriated each year for the State Cemetery Grants Program.
Appropriated funds are available until expended.
If a state that has received a grant under this program ceases to operate the cemetery as a veterans cemetery, the federal government is entitled to recover the total of all grants made under this program to that state. All grant costs must be necessary, reasonable and allocable to the project for which funds have been requested. When all requirements for Federal funding have been met, VA will award grants providing sufficient funds are available. The applicant must have clear legislative authority from the state to apply for the grant. This requirement is especially important in the case of grants to establish new cemeteries.