[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 113 (Tuesday, September 1, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9782-S9783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CLELAND (for himself and Mr. Coverdell):
  S. 2429. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
establish a national cemetery for veterans in the Atlanta, Georgia, 
metropolitan area; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


                     national cemetery legislation

  Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, today I am pleased to offer an important

[[Page S9783]]

piece of legislation designed to address a critical need of Georgia's 
veterans and their families.
  One of the greatest honors our country provides for a veteran's 
service is the opportunity to be buried in a national cemetery. It is 
logical that a veteran's family would want to have the grave site of 
their loved one close by. They want to be able to visit to place 
flowers or a folded American flag by the headstone of their father, 
mother, sister or brother. Georgia veterans' families deserve such 
consideration. The establishment of a new veterans national cemetery in 
the Atlanta metropolitan area is one of my highest legislative 
priorities.
  The current veterans population in Georgia is estimated to be nearly 
700,000, with over 400,000 residing in the Metro Atlanta area. Our 
state currently has two cemeteries designated specifically for 
veterans, in Marietta and Andersonville. Marietta National Cemetery has 
been full since 1970, and Andersonville National Historic Cemetery is 
located in southwest Georgia, at a considerable distance from most of 
the state's veterans population.
  The large population of veterans' families in Metro Atlanta and North 
Georgia is not being served, and we need to change that.
  Abraham Lincoln once said: ``All that a man hath will he give for his 
life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his 
life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The 
highest merit, then, is due to the soldier.''
  We owe it to our veterans and their families to provide a national 
veterans cemetery close to their home.
  I have been pursuing this matter for over 20 years, since I was head 
of the Veterans' Administration, now called the Department of Veterans' 
Affairs. Nationally, there are over 300,000 vacancies in national 
cemeteries for veterans, but in Georgia, there are no such vacancies. 
The only option these veterans have is burial in Andersonville, a 
national historic cemetery which is operated by the National Park 
Service, not the VA, and is more than 100 miles away from the Metro 
Atlanta area. This deeply concerns me, especially when one considers 
that Georgia has the highest rate of growth in terms of military 
retirees in the Nation, and that the majority of these veterans reside 
in Metro Atlanta. We really must do better for our veterans.
  In 1979, when I was head of the VA, our studies documented that the 
Atlanta metropolitan area was the area having the largest veterans 
population in the country without a national cemetery. Later that same 
year, I announced that Metro Atlanta had been chosen as the site for a 
new VA cemetery, which was to be opened in late 1983. The Atlanta 
location was chosen after an exhaustive review of many sites, including 
consideration of environmental, access, and land use factors, and most 
importantly, the density of veterans population. Unfortunately, the 
Reagan Administration later withdrew approval of the Atlanta site. Over 
the years since then, Atlanta has repeatedly been one of the top areas 
in the United States most in need of an additional national cemetery.
  Mr. President, the bill I am introducing today is simple. First, it 
requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a national 
cemetery in the Atlanta metropolitan area not later than January 1, 
2000. Second, it requires the Department to consult with appropriate 
federal, state, and local officials to determine the most suitable 
site. Finally, the bill further requires the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to report to Congress on the establishment of the cemetery, 
including an estimate on its cost and a timetable for completion of the 
cemetery.
  I believe this bill is a necessary first step toward the eventual 
establishment of a national cemetery to meet the needs of Atlanta's 
veterans and their families. Admittedly, several factors must be 
resolved before the cemetery can be established. A site must be found 
and funding must be made available. However, we must move swiftly to 
resolve this problem so that a critical element of our commitment to 
the Nation's veterans can be met.
  I am hopeful that the Senate will take favorable action on my bill 
early in the next Congress. I want to thank my colleague from Georgia, 
Senator Coverdell, for joining me in this important effort, and 
Representative Barr for sponsoring the companion bill in the other 
body.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2429

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

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT.

       (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 Atlanta, Georgia, 
     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 established under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with--
       (1) appropriate officials of the State of Georgia and local 
     officials of the Atlanta, Georgia, 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) 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 
     such establishment and an estimate of the costs associated 
     with such establishment.
       (d) Deadline.--The Secretary shall complete the 
     establishment of the national cemetery under subsection (a) 
     not later than January 1, 2000.

  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, today I am proud to join my esteemed 
colleague from Georgia, Senator Cleland, in introducing this very 
important piece of legislation authorizing a new National Cemetery in 
the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area. For many years Georgia has had 
a pressing need for a new national cemetery for veterans. Now, with the 
leadership of my friend from Georgia who, I might add, has been working 
to make this a reality for about twenty years, and with the 
introduction of this legislation, I believe we can finally build this 
much needed cemetery.
  Mr. President, Georgia has one of the fastest growing veterans 
populations in the country. Currently, about 700,000 veterans call 
Georgia home with well over half, about 440,000, living in the Metro-
Atlanta region; the area where this new cemetery would be built. 
However, the only national cemetery in the area has been full since 
1970. Furthermore, the only other veterans cemetery in the state is 
operated by the National Parks Service, not the Department of Veterans' 
Affairs, and is in Andersonville, a town in southwest Georgia far from 
the concentration of Georgia veterans.
  Mr. President, I believe my colleague has clearly demonstrated to us 
all further justification for a new national cemetery in Georgia. VA 
studies have concurred the need for this cemetery and, in fact, Atlanta 
was chosen as a site for a new cemetery in 1983. Again, Senator Cleland 
makes all this clear and I thank him for his dedication to this 
project.
  Burial in a national cemetery is a deserving honor for our nation's 
veterans, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to bestow upon 
them, especially in Georgia. This bipartisan legislation seeks to 
remedy this situation. Mr. President, by focusing on areas across the 
country with pressing needs for more burial slots, Congress can 
increase access to the honor of burial in a national cemetery. Georgia 
is such an area. By passing this measure, Congress would help veterans, 
and their families, find a burial place befitting their patriotic 
service to this great land.
                                 ______