I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1516
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery 
for veterans in southeastern Pennsylvania. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 31, 2003
Mr. GERLACH (for himself and Mr. HOEFFEL) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a 
national cemetery for veterans in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The metropolitan Philadelphia area is home 
to over 340,000 veterans and their families. 
(2) The Philadelphia National Cemetery is 
closed to all but cremated remains. 
(3) The Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in 
Lebanon County, Pennsylvania is the only prac-
ticable inground burial alternative for many veterans 
and their families. 
(4) The trip to the Indiantown Gap National 
Cemetery can be very difficult for many widows, 
widowers, and other family members from the Phila-
delphia area who wish to visit the graves of their 
loved ones. 
(5) Almost 290,000 veterans in the Philadel-
phia area live at least 65 miles away from the 
Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. 
(6) It is in the national interest to establish a 
new national cemetery in southeast Pennsylvania. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than four years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall establish, in accordance with chap-
ter 24 of title 38, United States Code, a national cemetery 
in southeastern Pennsylvania to serve the needs of vet-
erans and their families. 
(b) CONSULTATION IN SELECTION OF SITE.—Before 
selecting the site for the national cemetery established 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with—
(1) appropriate officials of the State of Penn-
sylvania and local officials of southeastern Pennsyl-
vania,
(2) appropriate officials of the United States, 
including the Administrator of General Services, 
with respect to land belonging to the United States 
in that area, including land at the Valley Forge Na-
tional Historic Park, that would be suitable for the 
purpose of establishing the national cemetery under 
subsection (a); and 
(3) representatives of veterans service organiza-
tions. 
The Governor of the State of Pennsylvania may establish 
a blue-ribbon panel consisting of officials of the State and 
local governments and representatives of veterans service 
organizations in southeastern Pennsylvania to make a rec-
ommendation to the Secretary in the selection of the site. 
If such a panel is established, not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the chair of the 
panel shall submit to the Secretary a final recommenda-
tion for the site of the national cemetery and an estimate 
of the acquisition costs, if any, of the site. 
(c) REPORT.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), not later 
than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
establishment of the national cemetery under subsection 
(a). The report shall set forth a schedule for such estab-
lishment and an estimate of the costs associated with such 
establishment. 
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the Governor 
of the State of Pennsylvania submits notice to the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs of the establishment of the blue-
ribbon panel under subsection (b) within 60 days of the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub-
mit the report required under paragraph (1) not later than 
6 months after the date of receipt of the final rec-
ommendation of the panel. 
(d) DEFINITION
OF
SOUTHEASTERN
PENNSYL-
VANIA.—In this section, the term ‘‘southeastern Pennsyl-
vania’’ means—
(1) the city of Philadelphia; and 
(2) the following counties in the State of Penn-
sylvania: 
(A) Berks. 
(B) Bucks. 
(C) Chester. 
(D) Delaware. 
(E) Philadelphia. 
(F) Montgomery.
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