BRAVE Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1596
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-07-20
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals

Disability and paralysis

Inflation and prices

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2018-08-01
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-616.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-07-20
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Burial Rights for America's Veterans' Efforts Act of 2017 or the BRAVE Act of 2017</b> </p> <p>This bill increases the amounts payable through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for: (1) burial and funeral expenses of certain veterans, and (2) such expenses in connection with a veteran's death due to a service-connected disability. </p> <p> The VA shall increase such amounts each fiscal year by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1596 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 20, 2017 Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Rubio ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase certain funeral benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.

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 . 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) in the matter after paragraph (2)(B), 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 subsection: (c) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the percentage 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, exceeds (2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1). . (b) Death from service-Connected disability Section 2307 of such title is amended— (1) by inserting striking In any case and inserting the following: (a) In general In any case ; (2) in subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (1), 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 subsection: (b) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the percentage 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, exceeds (2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1). . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall apply to deaths that occur after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.