I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10345 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program for 
the construction and renovation of committal shelters at State-owned 
veterans’ cemeteries, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 10, 2024 
Mrs. MILLER of West Virginia introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
a program for the construction and renovation of com-
mittal shelters at State-owned veterans’ 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 ‘‘Hershel ‘Woody’ Wil-
liams State Committal Shelter Act of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. COMMITTAL STRUCTURES AT STATE-OWNED VET-
ERANS’ CEMETERIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
out a program for the construction or renovation of com-
mittal shelters at State-owned veterans’ cemeteries to en-
sure attendees of burial services at such cemeteries are 
protected from inclement weather (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘program’’). 
(b) SOLICITATION
OF APPLICATIONS.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall solicit applications from States for par-
ticipation in the program. 
(c) SELECTION OF CEMETERIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall select, on a competitive basis, three 
State-owned veterans’ cemeteries for participation in 
the program. 
(2) CRITERIA.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each cemetery selected 
by the Secretary for participation in the pro-
gram shall be located in an area with drastic 
variation in annual temperature and weather 
patterns. 
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(B) APPALACHIA.—One cemetery selected 
by the Secretary for participation in the pro-
gram shall be located in a State in which each 
county of that State is served by the Appa-
lachian Regional Commission. 
(3) PRIORITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In selecting cemeteries 
for participation in the program, the Secretary 
shall prioritize cemeteries based on relative 
demonstrated need, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In making a de-
termination under subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary may consider— 
(i) the number of veterans’ families 
served by a cemetery; and 
(ii) the relative severity of weather at 
a cemetery. 
(d) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary 
shall carry out the program by entering into a cooperative 
agreement (as described in section 6305 of title 31, United 
States Code) with each cemetery selected for participation 
in the program. 
(e) COMMITTAL SHELTERS.—At each cemetery se-
lected for participation in the program, the Secretary shall 
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construct one or more new committal shelters, or renovate 
one or more existing committal shelters, so that each such 
shelter— 
(1) is fully enclosed; and 
(2) has heating, ventilation, air conditioning, 
and restroom services necessary for hosting not 
more than 50 individuals. 
(f) COST SHARE REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The share of the cost of the 
construction or renovation of a committal shelter 
under the program shall be as follows: 
(A) 50 percent Federal funds, subject to 
paragraph (2). 
(B) 50 percent funds provided by State or 
local governments, nonprofit organizations, or 
private entities. 
(2) FEDERAL MAXIMUM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each cemetery partici-
pating in the program shall receive not more 
than $2,000,000 in Federal funds through the 
program. 
(B) TOTAL
FEDERAL
MAXIMUM.—The 
total Federal share of the cost of construction 
and renovation of all committal shelters under 
the program shall not exceed $5,000,000. 
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