[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3977 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3977

           To reform the grave marker allowance for veterans.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 1994

   Mr. Peterson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
           To reform the grave marker allowance for veterans.

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

SECTION 1. GRAVE MARKER ALLOWANCE.

    (a) Reimbursement for Non-Government Markers.--Section 2306 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended to by adding at the end 
thereof the following new subsection:
    ``(e) In lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker under subsection 
(a)(2) or (b) of this section, 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 actual costs incurred by or on behalf of such person in (1) 
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, and (2) lettering final 
dates on such headstones or markers acquired while the individual is 
alive. Reimbursement under the preceding sentence may be made only upon 
the request of the person entitled to request the headstone or marker 
and may not be made in an amount in excess of the average actual cost 
(not including freight charges), as determined by the Secretary, of 
headstones and markers furnished under subsections (a) and (b) of this 
section.''.
    (b) Grave Liners.--Section 2306(d)(1) of such title is amended by 
striking out ``shall provide a grave liner for each'' and inserting in 
lieu thereof ``may provide a grave liner for any''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to deaths occurring on or after November 1, 1994.

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