In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Activities Inventory Reform 
Act of 1998''.
SEC. 2. ANNUAL LISTS OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES NOT INHERENTLY 
GOVERNMENTAL IN NATURE.
    (a) Lists Required.--Not later than the end of the third quarter of 
each fiscal year, the head of each executive agency shall submit to the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget a list of activities 
performed by Federal Government sources for the executive agency that, 
in the judgment of the head of the executive agency, are not inherently 
governmental functions. The entry for an activity on the list shall 
include the following:
        (1) The fiscal year for which the activity first appeared on a 
    list prepared under this section.
        (2) The number of full-time employees (or its equivalent) that 
    are necessary for the performance of the activity by a Federal 
    Government source.
        (3) The name of a Federal Government employee responsible for 
    the activity from whom additional information about the activity 
    may be obtained.
    (b) OMB Review and Consultation.--The Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget shall review the executive agency's list for a 
fiscal year and consult with the head of the executive agency regarding 
the content of the final list for that fiscal year.
    (c) Public Availability of Lists.--
        (1) Publication.--Upon the completion of the review and 
    consultation regarding a list of an executive agency--
            (A) the head of the executive agency shall promptly 
        transmit a copy of the list to Congress and make the list 
        available to the public; and
            (B) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
        shall promptly publish in the Federal Register a notice that 
        the list is available to the public.
        (2) Changes.--If the list changes after the publication of the 
    notice as a result of the resolution of a challenge under section 
    3, the head of the executive agency shall promptly--
            (A) make each such change available to the public and 
        transmit a copy of the change to Congress; and
            (B) publish in the Federal Register a notice that the 
        change is available to the public.
    (d) Competition Required.--Within a reasonable time after the date 
on which a notice of the public availability of a list is published 
under subsection (c), the head of the executive agency concerned shall 
review the activities on the list. Each time that the head of the 
executive agency considers contracting with a private sector source for 
the performance of such an activity, the head of the executive agency 
shall use a competitive process to select the source (except as may 
otherwise be provided in a law other than this Act, an Executive order, 
regulations, or any executive branch circular setting forth 
requirements or guidance that is issued by competent executive 
authority). The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall 
issue guidance for the administration of this subsection.
    (e) Realistic and Fair Cost Comparisons.--For the purpose of 
determining whether to contract with a source in the private sector for 
the performance of an executive agency activity on the list on the 
basis of a comparison of the costs of procuring services from such a 
source with the costs of performing that activity by the executive 
agency, the head of the executive agency shall ensure that all costs 
(including the costs of quality assurance, technical monitoring of the 
performance of such function, liability insurance, employee retirement 
and disability benefits, and all other overhead costs) are considered 
and that the costs considered are realistic and fair.

SEC. 3. CHALLENGES TO THE LIST.

    (a) Challenge Authorized.--An interested party may submit to an 
executive agency a challenge of an omission of a particular activity 
from, or an inclusion of a particular activity on, a list for which a 
notice of public availability has been published under section 2.
    (b) Interested Party Defined.--For the purposes of this section, 
the term ``interested party'', with respect to an activity referred to 
in subsection (a), means the following:
        (1) A private sector source that--
            (A) is an actual or prospective offeror for any contract, 
        or other form of agreement, to perform the activity; and
            (B) has a direct economic interest in performing the 
        activity that would be adversely affected by a determination 
        not to procure the performance of the activity from a private 
        sector source.
        (2) A representative of any business or professional 
    association that includes within its membership private sector 
    sources referred to in paragraph (1).
        (3) An officer or employee of an organization within an 
    executive agency that is an actual or prospective offeror to 
    perform the activity.
        (4) The head of any labor organization referred to in section 
    7103(a)(4) of title 5, United States Code, that includes within its 
    membership officers or employees of an organization referred to in 
    paragraph (3).
    (c) Time for Submission.--A challenge to a list shall be submitted 
to the executive agency concerned within 30 days after the publication 
of the notice of the public availability of the list under section 2.
    (d) Initial Decision.--Within 28 days after an executive agency 
receives a challenge, an official designated by the head of the 
executive agency shall--
        (1) decide the challenge; and
        (2) transmit to the party submitting the challenge a written 
    notification of the decision together with a discussion of the 
    rationale for the decision and an explanation of the party's right 
    to appeal under subsection (e).
    (e) Appeal.--
        (1) Authorization of appeal.--An interested party may appeal an 
    adverse decision of the official to the head of the executive 
    agency within 10 days after receiving a notification of the 
    decision under subsection (d).
        (2) Decision on appeal.--Within 10 days after the head of an 
    executive agency receives an appeal of a decision under paragraph 
    (1), the head of the executive agency shall decide the appeal and 
    transmit to the party submitting the appeal a written notification 
    of the decision together with a discussion of the rationale for the 
    decision.

SEC. 4. APPLICABILITY.

    (a) Executive Agencies Covered.--Except as provided in subsection 
(b), this Act applies to the following executive agencies:
        (1) Executive department.--An executive department named in 
    section 101 of title 5, United States Code.
        (2) Military department.--A military department named in 
    section 102 of title 5, United States Code.
        (3) Independent establishment.--An independent establishment, 
    as defined in section 104 of title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Exceptions.--This Act does not apply to or with respect to the 
following:
        (1) General accounting office.--The General Accounting Office.
        (2) Government corporation.--A Government corporation or a 
    Government controlled corporation, as those terms are defined in 
    section 103 of title 5, United States Code.
        (3) Nonappropriated funds instrumentality.--A part of a 
    department or agency if all of the employees of that part of the 
    department or agency are employees referred to in section 2105(c) 
    of title 5, United States Code.
        (4) Certain depot-level maintenance and repair.--Depot-level 
    maintenance and repair of the Department of Defense (as defined in 
    section 2460 of title 10, United States Code).

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
        (1) Federal government source.--The term ``Federal Government 
    source'', with respect to performance of an activity, means any 
    organization within an executive agency that uses Federal 
    Government employees to perform the activity.
        (2) Inherently governmental function.--
            (A) Definition.--The term ``inherently governmental 
        function'' means a function that is so intimately related to 
        the public interest as to require performance by Federal 
        Government employees.
            (B) Functions included.--The term includes activities that 
        require either the exercise of discretion in applying Federal 
        Government authority or the making of value judgments in making 
        decisions for the Federal Government, including judgments 
        relating to monetary transactions and entitlements. An 
        inherently governmental function involves, among other things, 
        the interpretation and execution of the laws of the United 
        States so as--
                (i) to bind the United States to take or not to take 
            some action by contract, policy, regulation, authorization, 
            order, or otherwise;
                (ii) to determine, protect, and advance United States 
            economic, political, territorial, property, or other 
            interests by military or diplomatic action, civil or 
            criminal judicial proceedings, contract management, or 
            otherwise;
                (iii) to significantly affect the life, liberty, or 
            property of private persons;
                (iv) to commission, appoint, direct, or control 
            officers or employees of the United States; or
                (v) to exert ultimate control over the acquisition, 
            use, or disposition of the property, real or personal, 
            tangible or intangible, of the United States, including the 
            collection, control, or disbursement of appropriated and 
            other Federal funds.
            (C) Functions excluded.--The term does not normally 
        include--
                (i) gathering information for or providing advice, 
            opinions, recommendations, or ideas to Federal Government 
            officials; or
                (ii) any function that is primarily ministerial and 
            internal in nature (such as building security, mail 
            operations, operation of cafeterias, housekeeping, 
            facilities operations and maintenance, warehouse 
            operations, motor vehicle fleet management operations, or 
            other routine electrical or mechanical services).

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect on October 1, 1998.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.
[EX A]: Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 - Directs the head of each executive agency to submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, not later than the end of the third quarter of each fiscal year, a list of activities performed by Federal Government sources for the agency that, in the judgment of the head of the executive agency, are not inherently governmental functions. 
Requires:  (1) the Director to review the agency's list and consult with the agency head regarding the contents of the final list for the fiscal year; (2) the agency head to transmit a copy of the list to the Congress and make the list publicly available; (3) the Director to publish in the Federal Register a notice that the list is publicly available; and (4) the agency head to publish a notice regarding, make available to the public, and transmit to the Congress, any subsequent change to the list. 
Requires the agency head to:  (1) review the activities on the list within a reasonable time after such a notice of its availability is published; and (2) use a competitive process (with specified exceptions) and ensure that all costs are considered each time that he or she considers contracting with a private sector source for the performance of an activity on the list. 
(Sec. 3) Permits an interested party to submit to an agency a challenge of an omission of a particular activity from, or an inclusion of a particular activity on, a list for which a notice has been published.  Sets forth procedures governing filing challenges, agency decisions on challenges, appealing such decisions, and agency decisions on such appeals. 
(Sec. 4) Provides that this Act shall not apply to or with respect to:  (1) the General Accounting Office; (2) Government corporations and Government controlled corporations; (3) a part of a department or agency if all of the employees of that part are employees paid from nonappropriated funds of certain instrumentalities of the United States under the jurisdiction of the armed forces; and (4) depot-level maintenance and repair of the Department of Defense.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Center for Social Work 
Research Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Social workers focus on the improvement of individual 
        and family functioning and the creation of effective health and 
        mental health prevention and treatment interventions in order 
        for individuals to become more productive members of society.
            (2) Social workers provide front line prevention and 
        treatment services in the areas of school violence, aging, teen 
        pregnancy, child abuse, domestic violence, juvenile crime, and 
        substance abuse, particularly in rural and underserved 
        communities.
            (3) Social workers are in a unique position to provide 
        valuable research information on these complex social concerns, 
        taking into account a wide range of social, medical, economic 
        and community influences from an interdisciplinary, family-
        centered and community-based approach.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH.

    Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.), 
as amended by title I of Public Law 106-525, is amended--
            (1) in section 401(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 281(b)(2)), by adding 
        at the end the following:
            ``(H) The National Center for Social Work Research.''; and
            (2) in part E (42 U.S.C. 287 et seq.), by adding at the end 
        the following:

         ``Subpart 7--National Center for Social Work Research

``SEC. 485J. PURPOSE OF CENTER.

    ``The general purpose of the National Center for Social Work 
Research (referred to in this subpart as the `Center') is the conduct 
and support of, and dissemination of targeted research on social work 
methods and outcomes related to problems of significant social concern. 
The Center shall promote research and training designed to inform 
social work practice, thus increasing the knowledge base which promotes 
a healthier America. In addition, the Center shall provide policymakers 
with empirically-based research information to better understand 
complex social issues and make informed funding decisions about service 
effectiveness and cost efficiency.

``SEC. 485K. SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--To carry out the purpose described in section 
485J, the Director of the Center may provide research training and 
instruction and establish, in the Center and in other nonprofit 
institutions, research traineeships and fellowships in the study and 
investigation of the prevention of disease, health promotion, the 
association of socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, age, and 
geographical location and health, the social work care of persons with 
and families of individuals with acute and chronic illnesses, child 
abuse, neglect, and youth violence, and child and family care to 
address problems of significant social concern especially in 
underserved populations and underserved geographical areas.
    ``(b) Stipends and Allowances.--The Director of the Center may 
provide individuals receiving training and instruction or traineeships 
or fellowships under subsection (a) with such stipends and allowances 
(including amounts for travel and subsistence and dependency 
allowances) as the Director determines necessary.
    ``(c) Grants.--The Director of the Center may make grants to 
nonprofit institutions to provide training and instruction and 
traineeships and fellowships under subsection (a).

``SEC. 485L. ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    ``(a) Duties.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        advisory council for the Center that shall advise, assist, 
        consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and the 
        Director of the Center on matters related to the activities 
carried out by and through the Center and the policies with respect to 
such activities.
            ``(2) Gifts.--The advisory council for the Center may 
        recommend to the Secretary the acceptance, in accordance with 
        section 231, of conditional gifts for study, investigations, 
        and research and for the acquisition of grounds or 
        construction, equipment, or maintenance of facilities for the 
        Center.
            ``(3) Other duties and functions.--The advisory council for 
        the Center--
                    ``(A)(i) may make recommendations to the Director 
                of the Center with respect to research to be conducted 
                by the Center;
                    ``(ii) may review applications for grants and 
                cooperative agreements for research or training and 
                recommend for approval applications for projects that 
                demonstrate the probability of making valuable 
                contributions to human knowledge; and
                    ``(iii) may review any grant, contract, or 
                cooperative agreement proposed to be made or entered 
                into by the Center;
                    ``(B) may collect, by correspondence or by personal 
                investigation, information relating to studies that are 
                being carried out in the United States or any other 
                country and, with the approval of the Director of the 
                Center, make such information available through 
                appropriate publications; and
                    ``(C) may appoint subcommittees and convene 
                workshops and conferences.
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The advisory council shall be composed 
        of the ex officio members described in paragraph (2) and not 
        more than 18 individuals to be appointed by the Secretary under 
        paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Ex officio members.--The ex officio members of the 
        advisory council shall include--
                    ``(A) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
                the Director of NIH, the Director of the Center, the 
                Chief Social Work Officer of the Veterans' 
                Administration, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
                Health Affairs, the Associate Director of Prevention 
                Research at the National Institute of Mental Health, 
                the Director of the Division of Epidemiology and 
                Services Research, the Assistant Secretary of Health 
                and Human Services for the Administration for Children 
                and Families, the Assistant Secretary of Education for 
                the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, the 
                Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
                for Community Planning and Development, and the 
                Assistant Attorney General for Office of Justice 
                Programs (or the designees of such officers); and
                    ``(B) such additional officers or employees of the 
                United States as the Secretary determines necessary for 
                the advisory council to effectively carry out its 
                functions.
            ``(3) Appointed members.--The Secretary shall appoint not 
        to exceed 18 individuals to the advisory council, of which--
                    ``(A) not more than two-thirds of such individual 
                shall be appointed from among the leading 
                representatives of the health and scientific 
                disciplines (including public health and the behavioral 
                or social sciences) relevant to the activities of the 
                Center, and at least 7 such individuals shall be 
                professional social workers who are recognized experts 
                in the area of clinical practice, education, policy, or 
                research; and
                    ``(B) not more than one-third of such individuals 
                shall be appointed from the general public and shall 
                include leaders in fields of public policy, law, health 
                policy, economics, and management.
        The Secretary shall make appointments to the advisory council 
        in such a manner as to ensure that the terms of the members do 
        not all expire in the same year.
            ``(4) Compensation.--Members of the advisory council who 
        are officers or employees of the United States shall not 
        receive any compensation for service on the advisory council. 
        The remaining members shall receive, for each day (including 
        travel time) they are engaged in the performance of the 
        functions of the advisory council, compensation at rates not to 
        exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate in effect for an 
        individual at grade GS-18 of the General Schedule.
    ``(c) Terms.--
            ``(1) In general.--The term of office of an individual 
        appointed to the advisory council under subsection (b)(3) shall 
        be 4 years, except that any individual appointed to fill a 
        vacancy on the advisory council shall serve for the remainder 
        of the unexpired term. A member may serve after the 
expiration of the member's term until a successor has been appointed.
            ``(2) Reappointments.--A member of the advisory council who 
        has been appointed under subsection (b)(3) for a term of 4 
        years may not be reappointed to the advisory council prior to 
        the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date on 
        which the prior term expired.
            ``(3) Vacancy.--If a vacancy occurs on the advisory council 
        among the members under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall 
        make an appointment to fill that vacancy not later than 90 days 
        after the date on which the vacancy occurs.
    ``(d) Chairperson.--The chairperson of the advisory council shall 
be selected by the Secretary from among the members appointed under 
subsection (b)(3), except that the Secretary may select the Director of 
the Center to be the chairperson of the advisory council. The term of 
office of the chairperson shall be 2 years.
    ``(e) Meetings.--The advisory council shall meet at the call of the 
chairperson or upon the request of the Director of the Center, but not 
less than 3 times each fiscal year. The location of the meetings of the 
advisory council shall be subject to the approval of the Director of 
the Center.
    ``(f) Administrative Provisions.--The Director of the Center shall 
designate a member of the staff of the Center to serve as the executive 
secretary of the advisory council. The Director of the Center shall 
make available to the advisory council such staff, information, and 
other assistance as the council may require to carry out its functions. 
The Director of the Center shall provide orientation and training for 
new members of the advisory council to provide such members with such 
information and training as may be appropriate for their effective 
participation in the functions of the advisory council.
    ``(g) Comments and Recommendations.--The advisory council may 
prepare, for inclusion in the biennial report under section 485M--
            ``(1) comments with respect to the activities of the 
        advisory council in the fiscal years for which the report is 
        prepared;
            ``(2) comments on the progress of the Center in meeting its 
        objectives; and
            ``(3) recommendations with respect to the future direction 
        and program and policy emphasis of the center.
The advisory council may prepare such additional reports as it may 
determine appropriate.

``SEC. 485M. BIENNIAL REPORT.

    ``The Director of the Center, after consultation with the advisory 
council for the Center, shall prepare for inclusion in the biennial 
report under section 403, a biennial report that shall consist of a 
description of the activities of the Center and program policies of the 
Director of the Center in the fiscal years for which the report is 
prepared. The Director of the Center may prepare such additional 
reports as the Director determines appropriate. The Director of the 
Center shall provide the advisory council of the Center an opportunity 
for the submission of the written comments described in section 
485L(g).

``SEC. 485N. QUARTERLY REPORT.

    ``The Director of the Center shall prepare a quarterly report to 
Congress with a summary of findings and policy implications from 
research conducted or supported through the Center.

``SEC. 485O. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``For the purpose of carrying out this subpart, there is authorized 
to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2002 
through 2006.''.
[EX A]: National Center for Social Work Research Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the National Center for Social Work Research (and a related advisory council) to conduct, support, and disseminate targeted research on social work methods and outcomes related to problems of significant social concern.Sets forth reporting requirements.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement 
Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN BURIAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Burial and Funeral Expenses.--(1) Section 2302(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``$300'' and inserting 
``$3,000 (as increased from time to time under section 5312(a) of this 
title)''.
    (2) Section 2303(a)(1)(A) of such title is amended by striking 
``$700'' and inserting ``$3,000''.
    (3) Section 2307 of such title is amended by striking ``$2,000,'' 
and inserting ``$4,000 (as increased from time to time under section 
5312(a) of this title),''.
    (b) Plot Allowance.--Section 2303(b) of such title is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$700'' and inserting 
        ``$800''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$700'' the second place 
        it appears and inserting ``$800''.
    (c) Annual Adjustment.--Section 5312(a) of such title is amended by 
striking ``and each rate of monthly allowance paid under section 1805 
of this title,'' and inserting ``each rate of monthly allowance paid 
under section 1805 of this title, each rate of burial and funeral 
expenses provided for under sections 2302(a) and 2307 of this title, 
and each rate of plot allowance provided for under section 2303(b) of 
this title,''.
    (d) Effective Date.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
amendments made by this section shall apply to deaths occurring on or 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (2) No adjustments shall be made under section 5312(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, as amended by subsection (c), for fiscal year 2012 
for rates of burial and funeral expenses provided for under sections 
2302(a) and 2307 of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF VETERAN PLOT ALLOWANCE ELIGIBILITY AND HEADSTONE 
              OR MARKER ALLOWANCE.

    (a) Restoration of Plot Allowance Eligibility for Veterans of Any 
War.--Section 2303(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``subsection (a) of this section'' and all that follows through 
        ``and who'' and inserting the following: ``subsection (a), in 
        the case of a veteran who is eligible for a burial allowance 
        under such subsection or under section 2302 of this title, who 
        was discharged from the active military, naval, or air service 
        for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or 
        who is a veteran of any war and''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``is eligible for a burial 
                allowance under section 2302 of this title or under 
                subsection (a) of this section, or was discharged from 
                the active military, naval, or air service for a 
                disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, and 
                such veteran''; and
                    (B) by striking ``clause (1) of this subsection'' 
                and inserting ``paragraph (1)''.
    (b) Restoration of Headstone or Marker Allowance.--
            (1) Allowance.--Section 2306 of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(h) In lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker under subsection 
(a)(2) or (b), the Secretary, in the Secretary's discretion, having due 
regard for the circumstances in each case, may reimburse the person 
entitled to request such headstone or marker for the cost of acquiring 
a non-Government headstone or marker for placement in any cemetery 
other than a national cemetery in connection with the burial or 
memorialization of the deceased individual.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (g) of such section 
        is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(4) Reimbursement may not be provided under subsection (h) for 
the cost of acquiring a non-Government headstone or marker in 
connection with the burial or memorialization of a person described in 
section 2411(b) of this title.''.
            (3) Clerical amendment.--Subsection (a) of such section is 
        amended by moving the margin of each of paragraphs (1) through 
        (5) by two ems to the right.
            (4) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF BURIAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Homeless Veterans.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 23 of such title is amended by 
        inserting after section 2302 the following new section:
``Sec. 2302A. Funeral expenses for homeless veterans not serving during 
              wartime
    ``(a) Payment of Funeral Expenses.--The Secretary, in the 
Secretary's discretion, having due regard to the circumstances in each 
case, may pay a sum not exceeding the amount authorized under section 
2302(a) of this title to such person as the Secretary prescribes to 
cover the burial and funeral expenses of a deceased veteran described 
in subsection (b) and the expense of preparing the body and 
transporting it to the place of burial.
    ``(b) Homeless Veteran.--A deceased veteran described in this 
subsection is an individual--
            ``(1) whom the Secretary determines--
                    ``(A) is a homeless veteran (as defined in section 
                2002(1) of this title);
                    ``(B) has no next of kin or other person claiming 
                the body of the deceased veteran; and
                    ``(C) does not have available sufficient resources 
                to cover burial and funeral expenses;
            ``(2) whose service in the Armed Forces was not during 
        wartime; and
            ``(3) who was either--
                    ``(A) discharged from the active military, naval, 
                or air service under honorable conditions; or
                    ``(B) died during a period deemed to be active 
                military, naval, or air service under section 106(c) of 
                this title.
    ``(c) Deductions.--(1) Except as provided in this subsection, no 
deduction shall be made from the burial allowance because of the 
veteran's net assets at the time of the death of such veteran, or 
because of any contribution from any source toward the burial and 
funeral expenses (including transportation) unless the amount of 
expenses incurred is covered by the amount actually paid therefore by 
the United States, a State, any agency or political subdivision of the 
United States or of a State, or the employer of the deceased veteran.
    ``(2) No claim shall be allowed--
            ``(A) for more than the difference between the entire 
        amount of the expenses incurred and an amount paid by the 
        United States, a State, any agency or political subdivision of 
        the United States or of a State, or the employer of the 
        deceased veteran, as described in paragraph (1);
            ``(B) when the burial allowance would revert to the funds 
        of a public or private organization or would discharge such an 
        organization's obligation without payment; or
            ``(C) in any case where payment of expenses of funeral, 
        transportation, and interment for the veteran is made under any 
        other Act.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
        item relating to section 2302 the following new item:

``2302A. Funeral expenses for homeless veterans not serving during 
                            wartime.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a)(1) shall 
apply to deaths occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
[EX A]:
Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 - Increases the authorized allowance for burial and funeral expenses for deceased veterans who: (1) at the time of death were in receipt of veterans' disability compensation or veterans' pension benefits, or (2) were veterans of any war or were discharged or released from active military service for a service-connected disability and have no next of kin or sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial costs. Increases the burial and funeral allowances for veterans who: (1) at the time of death, were receiving hospital or nursing home care in or through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); or (2) die as a result of a service-connected disability. Authorizes the annual adjustment of such allowances by the same percentage increase as adjustments to benefit amounts payable under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act.

Authorizes a burial plot allowance, as well as reimbursement for a burial headstone or marker, for a veteran of any war.

Authorizes the VA to cover the burial and funeral expenses of a deceased veteran: (1) who is homeless, has no next of kin or other person claiming the body, and does not have sufficient resources to cover such expenses; (2) whose service in the Armed Forces was not during wartime; and (3) who was either discharged under honorable conditions or died during a period deemed to be active service. Prohibits any deduction from the burial allowance because of a veteran's assets or because of any contribution toward the burial and funeral expenses, unless the expenses incurred are covered by the United States, a state, an agency or political subdivision of the United States or a state, or the veteran's employer.