Title: A bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program, and for other purposes.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program. The program provides the public with engagement and educational opportunities regarding veterans interred in national, state, or tribal veterans' cemeteries. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to report on the efficacy of the grant program.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3039 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 3039

  To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant 
program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials 
        for the Veterans Legacy Program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 12, 2019

Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. Rounds) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant 
program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials 
        for the Veterans Legacy Program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CEMETERY RESEARCH AND THE PRODUCTION OF 
              EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR THE VETERANS LEGACY PROGRAM OF 
              THE NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Grant Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
        establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and 
        produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program.
            (2) Eligible recipients.--The Secretary may award a grant 
        under this section to any of the following recipients:
                    (A) An institution of higher learning.
                    (B) A local educational agency.
                    (C) A nonprofit entity that the Secretary 
                determines has a demonstrated history of community 
                engagement.
                    (D) Such other recipient as the Secretary 
                determines to be appropriate.
            (3) Use of funds.--The recipient of a grant under this 
        section may use the grant amount for the following purposes:
                    (A) To conduct research relating to national, 
                State, or Tribal veterans' cemeteries.
                    (B) To produce educational materials for the 
                purpose of teaching about the histories of veterans 
                interred in national, State, or Tribal veterans' 
                cemeteries.
                    (C) To promote community engagement with the 
                histories of veterans interred in national, State, or 
                Tribal veterans' cemeteries.
            (4) Maximum grant amount.--The amount of a grant awarded 
        under this section may not exceed $500,000.
    (b) Regulations.--If the Secretary establishes a grant program 
under this section, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations 
regarding--
            (1) the evaluation of applications for grants under the 
        program; and
            (2) administration of the program.
    (c) Report Required.--Not later than 2 years after the date on 
which the Secretary establishes a grant program under this section, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a report on the determination of the Secretary as to 
whether the grant program is a financially effective means to promote 
the purposes under subsection (a)(3).
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Institution of higher learning.--The term ``institution 
        of higher learning'' has the meaning given that term in section 
        3452(f) of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (3) Veterans legacy program.--The term ``Veterans Legacy 
        Program'' means the program of the National Cemetery 
        Administration that is responsible for providing engagement and 
        educational tools and opportunities for the public regarding 
        the service and sacrifice of veterans interred in national, 
        State, and Tribal veterans' cemeteries.
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