[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 551 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 551

  To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national 
 cemetery for veterans in the Colorado Springs, Colorado, metropolitan 
                                 area.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 8, 2005

  Mr. Allard introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national 
 cemetery for veterans in the Colorado Springs, Colorado, metropolitan 
                                 area.

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

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CEMETERY IN COLORADO SPRINGS, 
              COLORADO, METROPOLITAN AREA.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish, 
in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, a 
national cemetery in the Colorado Springs, Colorado, metropolitan area 
to serve the needs of veterans and their families.
    (b) Consultation in Selection of Site.--Before selecting the site 
for the national cemetery to be established under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall consult with--
            (1) appropriate officials of the State of Colorado and 
        local officials of the Colorado Springs metropolitan area; and
            (2) appropriate officials of the United States, including 
        the Administrator of General Services, with respect to land 
        belonging to the United States in that area that would be 
        suitable to establish the national cemetery under subsection 
        (a).
    (c) Authority to Accept Donation of Parcel of Land.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may accept on behalf of the 
        United States the gift of an appropriate parcel of real 
        property. The Secretary shall have administrative jurisdiction 
        over such parcel of real property, and shall use such parcel to 
        establish the national cemetery under subsection (a).
            (2) Income tax treatment of gift.--For purposes of Federal 
        income, estate, and gift taxes, the real property accepted 
        under paragraph (1) shall be considered as a gift to the United 
        States.
    (d) 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 cemetery under subsection (a). The report 
shall set forth a schedule for the establishment of the national 
cemetery and an estimate of the costs associated with the establishment 
of the national cemetery.
                                 <all>