[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 163 (Friday, October 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              BURIAL BENEFITS TO INCLUDE CERTAIN VETERANS

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                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 1995

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to expand 
eligibility for burial benefits to include certain veterans who die in 
State nursing homes. My distinguished colleagues, Sonny Montgomery, 
Terry Everett, and Lane Evans, join me in introducing this bill.
  Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs pays burial benefits 
for veterans who were either compensation or pension recipients, or who 
died in a VA medical center. About 2,500 veterans die in State veterans 
homes in a given year. About 12 percent of those--or 300 veterans--do 
not qualify for priority care in Veterans Health Administration 
facilities, are not service connected, or are not pension recipients.
  This bill would provide, at an insignificant cost, more equitable and 
consistent coverage for our Nation's veterans receiving domiciliary, 
nursing home and hospital care at VA expense in State nursing homes.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join Mr. Montgomery and me as 
cosponsors of this bill.

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