[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2385 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2385


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 16, 2019

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
   To permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant 
program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials 
                    for the Veterans Legacy Program.

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

SECTION 1. GRANTS FOR CEMETERY RESEARCH AND THE PRODUCTION OF 
              EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
        establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and 
        produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program.
            (2) Eligible recipients.--The Secretary may award a grant 
        under this section to any of the following entities:
                    (A) An institution of higher learning.
                    (B) A local education agency.
                    (C) A non-profit entity that the Secretary 
                determines has a demonstrated history of community 
                engagement.
                    (D) Another recipient the Secretary determines to 
                be appropriate.
            (3) Use of funds.--A recipient of a grant under this 
        section may use the grant amount to--
                    (A) conduct research related to national, State, or 
                Tribal veterans' cemeteries;
                    (B) produce education materials that teach about 
                the history of veterans interred in national, State, or 
                Tribal veterans' cemeteries; and
                    (C) promote community engagement with the histories 
                of veterans interred in national, State, or Tribal 
                veterans' cemeteries.
            (4) Maximum amount.--A grant awarded under this section may 
        not exceed $500,000.
    (b) Regulations.--If the Secretary establishes a grant program 
under this section, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations 
regarding--
            (1) the evaluation of applications for grants under the 
        program; and
            (2) administration of the program.
    (c) Report Required.--Not later than 2 years after the Secretary 
establishes a grant program under this section, the Secretary shall 
submit to the committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate a report regarding the determination of 
the Secretary whether the grant program is a financially effective 
means to promote the purposes in subsection (a)(3).
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``Veterans Legacy Program'' means the program 
        of the National Cemetery Administration that is responsible for 
        providing engagement and educational tools and opportunities to 
        the public regarding the service and sacrifice of veterans 
        interred in national, State, or Tribal veterans' cemeteries.
            (2) The term ``institution of higher learning'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 3452(f) of title 38, United 
        States Code.
            (3) The term ``local educational agency'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

            Passed the House of Representatives October 15, 2019.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.