National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003
PL 108-109 (H.R.1516), enacted 11/11/2003

117 STAT. 1322
PUBLIC LAW 108–109—NOV. 11, 2003
Public Law 108–109
108th Congress
An Act
To provide for the establishment by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of additional
cemeteries in the National Cemetery Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Cemetery Expansion
Act of 2003’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW NATIONAL CEMETERIES.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 4 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code,
shall establish six new national cemeteries. The new cemeteries
shall be located in the following locations (those locations having
been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be the
most appropriate locations for new national cemeteries):
(1) Southeastern Pennsylvania.
(2) The Birmingham, Alabama, area.
(3) The Jacksonville, Florida, area.
(4) The Bakersfield, California, area.
(5) The Greenville/Columbia, South Carolina, area.
(6) The Sarasota County, Florida, area.
(b) FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated for the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs for any fiscal year after fiscal year 2003 for Advance
Planning shall be available for the purposes of subsection (a).
(c) SITE SELECTION PROCESS.—In determining the specific sites
for the new cemeteries required by subsection (a) within the loca-
tions specified in that subsection, the Secretary shall solicit the
advice and views of representatives of State and local veterans
organizations and other individuals as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(d) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
a report on the establishment of the national cemeteries required
by subsection (a). The report shall—
(1) set forth a schedule for the establishment of each such
cemetery and an estimate of the costs associated with the
establishment of each such cemetery; and
(2) identify the amount of Advance Planning Funds obli-
gated for purposes of this section as of the submission of the
report.
(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary shall submit to Congress
an annual report on the implementation of this section until the
Deadline.
38 USC 2400
note.
Deadline.
National
Cemetery
Expansion Act
of 2003.
38 USC 2400
note.
Nov. 11, 2003
[H.R. 1516]
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117 STAT. 1323
PUBLIC LAW 108–109—NOV. 11, 2003
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1516:
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 108–199 (Comm. on Veterans’ Affairs).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 108–164 (Comm. on Veterans’ Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 149 (2003):
July 21, considered and passed House.
Oct. 17, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Oct. 29, House concurred in Senate amendments.
establishment of all six cemeteries is completed and each such
cemetery has opened. The Secretary shall include in each such
annual report an update of the information provided under para-
graphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d).
(f) DEFINITION OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘southeastern Pennsylvania’’ means the city of
Philadelphia and Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County,
Delaware County, Philadelphia County, and Montgomery County
in the State of Pennsylvania.
Approved November 11, 2003.
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