I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1212 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to increase certain veteran funeral benefits, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 21, 2017 
Mr. HUNTER (for himself, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. GRAVES of Missouri, Mrs. 
BUSTOS, Mrs. DINGELL, and Mr. ROTHFUS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to increase certain veteran 
funeral benefits, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Burial Rights for 
America’s Veterans’ Efforts Act of 2017’’ or the ‘‘BRAVE 
Act of 2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. INCREASE TO CERTAIN FUNERAL BENEFITS UNDER 
LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) FUNERAL EXPENSES.—Section 2302(a) of title 
38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘$300’’ and inserting ‘‘$749 (as 
increased from time to time under subsection (c))’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary 
shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the near-
est dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral 
expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the per-
centage by which— 
‘‘(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, 
United States city average) for the 12-month period 
ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of 
the fiscal year for which the increase is made, ex-
ceeds 
‘‘(2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12- 
month period preceding the 12-month period de-
scribed in paragraph (1).’’. 
(b) 
DEATH
FROM
SERVICE-CONNECTED
DIS-
ABILITY.—Section 2307 of such title is amended— 
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(1) by striking ‘‘In any case’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In any case’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘$2,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$2,000 
(as increased from time to time under subsection 
(b))’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary 
shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the near-
est dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral 
expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the per-
centage by which— 
‘‘(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, 
United States city average) for the 12-month period 
ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of 
the fiscal year for which the increase is made, ex-
ceeds 
‘‘(2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12- 
month period preceding the 12-month period de-
scribed in paragraph (1).’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this Act shall apply to deaths that occur after the day that 
is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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