[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 695 Referred in House (RFH)]

  1st Session
                                 S. 695


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 5, 1999

             Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national 
 cemetery for veterans in various locations in the United States, and 
                          for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish, 
in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, the 
following:
            (1) A national cemetery in the Atlanta, Georgia, 
        metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
        families.
            (2) A national cemetery in Southwestern Pennsylvania to 
        serve the needs of veterans and their families.
            (3) A national cemetery in the Miami, Florida, metropolitan 
        area to serve the needs of veterans and their families.
            (4) A national cemetery in the Detroit, Michigan, 
        metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
        families.
            (5) A national cemetery in the Sacramento, California, 
        metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
        families.
    (b) Consultation in Selection of Sites.--Before selecting the sites 
for the national cemeteries to be established under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall consult with--
            (1) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
        under paragraph (1) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
        of the State of Georgia and appropriate officials of local 
        governments in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area;
            (2) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
        under paragraph (2) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
        of the State of Pennsylvania and appropriate officials of local 
        governments in Southwestern Pennsylvania;
            (3) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
        under paragraph (3) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
        of the State of Florida and appropriate officials of local 
        governments in the Miami, Florida, metropolitan area;
            (4) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
        under paragraph (4) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
        of the State of Michigan and appropriate officials of local 
        governments in the Detroit, Michigan, metropolitan area;
            (5) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
        under paragraph (5) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
        of the State of California and appropriate officials of local 
        governments in the Sacramento, California, metropolitan area; 
        and
            (6) appropriate officials of the United States, including 
        the Administrator of General Services, with respect to land 
        belonging to the United States that would be suitable as a 
        location for the establishment of each such national cemetery.
    (c) Report.--As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
establishment of the national cemeteries under subsection (a). The 
report shall 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.

SEC. 2. USE OF FLAT GRAVE MARKERS.

    (a) Authority To Use Flat Grave Markers at Santa Fe National 
Cemetery.--Notwithstanding section 2404(c)(2) of title 38, United 
States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide for flat 
grave markers at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, New Mexico.
    (b) Report Comparing Use of Flat Grave Markers and Upright Grave 
Markers.--(1) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives a report assessing the advantages and disadvantages of 
the use by the National Cemetery Administration of flat grave markers 
and upright grave markers.
    (2) The report under paragraph (1) shall set forth the advantages 
and disadvantages of the use of each type of grave marker referred to 
in that paragraph, and shall include criteria to be utilizing in 
determining whether to prefer the use of one such type of grave marker 
over the other.

            Passed the Senate August 4, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.