113 S2822 IS: Dignified Interment of Our Veterans Act of 2014 U.S. Senate 2014-09-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II113th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 2822IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 16, 2014Mr. Toomey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on matters relating to the burial of unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Dignified Interment of Our Veterans Act of 2014.

2.

Department of Veterans Affairs study on matters relating to burial of unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries

(a)

Study and report required

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—(1)complete a study on matters relating to the interring of unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration; and(2)submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study required under paragraph (1).(b)

Matters studied

The matters studied under subsection (a)(1) shall include the following:(1)Determining the scope of issues relating to unclaimed remains of veterans, including an estimate of the number of unclaimed remains of veterans.(2)Assessing the effectiveness of the procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs for working with persons or entities having custody of unclaimed remains to facilitate interment of unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration.(3)Assessing State and local laws that affect the ability of the Secretary to inter unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration.(4)Developing recommendations for such legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate.(c)

Methodology

(1)

Number of unclaimed remains

In estimating the number of unclaimed remains of veterans under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary may review such subset of applicable entities as the Secretary considers appropriate, including a subset of funeral homes and coroner offices that possess unclaimed veterans remains.(2)

Assessment of State and local laws

In assessing State and local laws under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary may assess such sample of applicable State and local laws as the Secretary considers appropriate in lieu of reviewing all applicable State and local laws.