[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E68-E69]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY INTEGRITY ACT

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                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 1998

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that 
will restore the integrity of the final resting place for many of our

[[Page E69]]

veterans, Arlington National Cemetery. These men and women who so 
proudly served our nation, and their families, deserve to be the only 
Americans interred in this place of high honor.
  In recent months, it came to be known that 69 non-veterans have been 
granted waivers by the Secretary of the Army to be buried in Arlington 
in the last six years. In addition, we heard allegations that campaign 
donations may have influenced the waiver process. Fortunately, an 
investigation by the General Accounting Office found that no wrongdoing 
occurred. However, the outcome of this investigation brought to light 
the need for tightened standards to ensure the integrity of Arlington 
National Cemetery.
  Today I am introducing legislation, Arlington National Cemetery 
Integrity Act, which will put into law the current regulations allowing 
veterans, certain of their family members, and a few distinguished 
government officials with active duty military service to be interred 
at the cemetery. My legislation will end the practice of granting 
waivers and legally clarify once and for all who may be buried at 
Arlington.
  Currently, the Code of Federal Regulations outlines who can and 
cannot be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The code allows the 
following to have their remains kept at Arlington: any active duty 
member of the Armed Forces; any retired member of the Armed Forces; any 
former member of the Armed Forces separated for physical disability 
prior to October 1, 1949; any former Member of the Armed Forces whose 
last active duty military service terminated honorably and who has been 
awarded the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished 
Service Medal, Silver Star, or Purple Heart; qualified elective 
officers, Supreme Court Justices, and certain other government 
officials, all of whom served in the Armed Forces and were terminated 
honorably from their last period of active duty as a member of the 
Armed Forces; any former prisoner of war who served honorably in the 
active Armed Forces, whose last period of active military service 
terminated honorably, and who died on or after November 30, 1993; the 
spouse, surviving spouse, minor child and unmarried adult child of the 
persons listed above; the surviving spouse, minor child, or unmarried 
adult child of any person already buried in Arlington; and finally, the 
parents of a minor child or unmarried adult child whose remains, based 
on the eligibility of a parent, are already buried in Arlington 
National Cemetery.
  The only addition to the code that my legislation allows for is for 
the U.S. Commander in Chief, the President of the United States, to be 
buried at Arlington National Cemetery. This provision allows for both 
present and former presidents to be buried there.
  The granting of waivers to unqualified individuals not only takes up 
precious, limited space at Arlington, but also threatens to diminish 
the integrity of the veterans who are interred there.
  Burial at Arlington is the last honor that we can bestow upon our 
veterans. We must preserve this tribute to our soldiers, who gave their 
lives for our nation. The Arlington National Cemetery Integrity Act 
will preserve this honor and final resting place for our veterans for 
years and years to come.

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