[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2217 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2217

To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for 
                   veterans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2003

 Ms. Berkley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for 
                   veterans, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement 
Act of 2003''.

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 
``$1,135 (as increased from time to time under section 5312(a) of this 
title)''.
    (2) Section 2303(a)(1)(A) of that title is amended by striking 
``$300'' and inserting ``$1,135 (as increased from time to time under 
section 5312(a) of this title)''.
    (3) Section 2307 of that title is amended by striking ``$2,000,'' 
and inserting ``$3,712 (as increased from time to time under section 
5312(a) of this title),''.
    (b) Plot Allowance.--Section 2303(b) of that title is amended--
            (1) by striking ``$300'' the first place it appears and 
        inserting ``$670 (as increased from time to time under section 
        5312(a) of this title)''; and
            (2) by striking ``$300'' the second place it appears and 
        inserting ``$670 (as so increased)''.
    (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), 2303(a)(1)(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 2004 
for rates of burial and funeral expenses provided for under sections 
2302(a), 2303(a)(1)(A), and 2307 of title 38, United States Code, and 
each rate of plot allowance provided for under section 2303(b) of such 
title.
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