I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2696 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase assistance for veterans 
interred in cemeteries other than national cemeteries, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 13, 2007 
Mr. LAMBORN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase assistance 
for veterans interred in cemeteries other than national 
cemeteries, 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 ‘‘Veterans’ Dignified 
Burial Assistance Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS IN-
TERRED IN CEMETERIES OTHER THAN NA-
TIONAL CEMETERIES. 
(a) INCREASE
IN PLOT
OR INTERMENT ALLOW-
ANCE.—Section 2303(b) of title 38, United States Code, 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:14 Jun 15, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2696.IH
H2696
ccoleman on PRODPC75 with BILLS
is amended by striking ‘‘$300’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘$400’’. 
(b) REPEAL OF TIME LIMITATION FOR STATE FIL-
ING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR INTERMENT COSTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The second sentence of sec-
tion 3.1604(d)(2) of title 38, Code of Federal Regu-
lations, shall have no further force or effect as it 
pertains to unclaimed remains of a deceased veteran. 
(2) RETROACTIVE
APPLICATION.—Paragraph 
(1) shall apply with respect to a claim for reimburse-
ment filed on or after October 1, 2006. 
(c) GRANTS FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF 
STATE VETERANS’ CEMETERIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 
2408 of such title is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a)(1) Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary may 
make grants to any State to assist the State in any of 
the following: 
‘‘(A) Establishing, expanding, or improving a 
veterans’ cemetery owned by the State. 
‘‘(B) Operating and maintaining such a ceme-
tery. 
‘‘(2) Any such grant may be made only upon submis-
sion of an application to the Secretary in such form and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:47 Jun 16, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2696.IH
H2696
ccoleman on PRODPC75 with BILLS
manner, and containing such information, as the Sec-
retary may require.’’. 
(2) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT AWARDED.—Sub-
section (e) of such section is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Amounts’’; 
and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) In any fiscal year, the aggregate amount of 
grants awarded under this section for the purposes speci-
fied in subsection (a)(1)(B) may not exceed $5,000,000.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such section 
is further amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Grants under this sec-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘A grant under this 
section for the purposes described in sub-
section (a)(1)(A)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘a grant under this 
section’’ each place it appears and insert-
ing ‘‘such a grant’’; and 
(B) in each of subsections (d)(1) and 
(f)(1), by inserting ‘‘, or in operating and main-
taining a veterans’ cemetery,’’ after ‘‘veterans’ 
cemetery’’. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:14 Jun 15, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2696.IH
H2696
ccoleman on PRODPC75 with BILLS
(4) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations 
to carry out the amendments made by this sub-
section. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:14 Jun 15, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2696.IH
H2696
ccoleman on PRODPC75 with BILLS