II 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2320 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 19, 2012 Ms. Ayotte (for herself and Mr. Begich) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to provide for the ongoing maintenance of Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Republic of the Philippines, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Remembering America's Forgotten Veterans Cemetery Act of 2012.

2.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)Clark Veterans Cemetery, located in the Republic of the Philippines, contains the remains of more than 8,300 members of the United States Armed Forces and their dependents. (2)In 1991, following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the Air Force evacuated Clark Air Force Base ending more than 90 years of custodianship of Clark Veterans Cemetery and its predecessor cemeteries by the United States Government. (3)From 1991 until 1994, Clark Veterans Cemetery, already covered by a layer of volcanic ash, deteriorated further as plant life overtook what remained of many graves and monuments, failing to give the members of the Armed Forces and veterans interred at Clark Veterans Cemetery the honorable resting place their brave service deserves. (4)Since 1994, volunteers have attempted to maintain Clark Veterans Cemetery without assistance from the United States Government. (5)The mission of the American Battle Monuments Commission is designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent American cemeteries in foreign countries. (6)Subsection (a) of section 2102 of title 36, United States Code, provides the Commission with the authority to employ such personnel as may be necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities with respect to Clark Veteran Cemetery. (7)Subsection (b) of such section authorizes departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States Government to make personnel and facilities available to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, to assist the Commission in carrying out its responsibilities with respect to Clark Veterans Cemetery. (8)Section 2103(e) of such title authorizes the Commission to solicit and receive funds and in-kind donations and gifts from any State, municipal, or private source to help carry out its responsibilities with respect to Clark Veterans Cemetery.

3.

Maintenance of Clark Veterans Cemetery by American Battle Monuments Commission

(a)

In general

For purposes of section 2104 of title 36, United States Code, Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Republic of the Philippines shall be treated as a cemetery that the American Battle Monuments Commission and the Secretary of the Army decided under such section will become a permanent cemetery and the Commission shall restore, operate, and maintain Clark Veterans Cemetery under such section in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. (b)

Funding

The requirement of subsection (a) for the American Battle Monuments Commission to restore, operate, and maintain Clark Veterans Cemetery shall be subject to the availability of appropriations for the restoration, operation, and maintenance of cemeteries by the American Battle Monuments Commission.