[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 113 (Wednesday, August 4, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10265-S10266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CEMETERY FOR VETERANS IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now 
proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 221, S. 695.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 695) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     to establish a national cemetery for veterans in the Atlanta, 
     Georgia metropolitan area.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
bill which had been reported from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and inserting 
in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     establish, in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United 
     States Code, the following:
       (1) A national cemetery in the Atlanta, Georgia, 
     metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
     families.
       (2) A national cemetery in Southwestern Pennsylvania to 
     serve the needs of veterans and their families.
       (3) A national cemetery in the Miami, Florida, metropolitan 
     area to serve the needs of veterans and their families.
       (b) Consultation in Selection of Sites.--Before selecting 
     the sites for the national cemeteries to be established under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with--
       (1) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (1) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of Georgia and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area;
       (2) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (2) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of Pennsylvania and appropriate officials of 
     local governments in Southwestern Pennsylvania;
       (3) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (3) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of Florida and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Miami, Florida, metropolitan area; and
       (4) appropriate officials of the United States, including 
     the Administrator of General Services, with respect to land 
     belonging to the United States that would be suitable as a 
     location for the establishment of each such national 
     cemetery.
       (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 cemeteries 
     under subsection (a). The report shall set forth a schedule 
     for the establishment of each such cemetery and an estimate 
     of the costs associated with the establishment of each such 
     cemetery.


                           amendment no. 1562

 (Purpose: To require the establishment of a national cemetery in the 
Detroit, Michigan, metropolitan area and in the Sacramento, California, 
metropolitan area, to authorize the use of flat grave markers at Santa 
       Fe National Cemetery, New Mexico, and for other purposes)

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, Senators Specter and Rockefeller have an 
amendment at the desk. I ask for its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Mississippi [Mr. Cochran], for Mr. 
     Specter, for himself, and Mr. Rockefeller, proposes an 
     amendment numbered 1562.

  The amendment is as follows:
       On page 3, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following:
       (4) A national cemetery in the Detroit, Michigan, 
     metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
     families.
       (5) A national cemetery in the Sacramento, California, 
     metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
     families.
       On page 4, strike lines 3 and 4 and insert the following:
       Florida, metropolitan area;
       (4) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (4) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of Michigan and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Detroit, Michigan, metropolitan area;
       (5) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (5) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of California and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Sacramento, California, metropolitan area; 
     and
       (6) appropriate officials of the United States, in-
       On page 4, after line 15, add the following:

     SEC. 2. USE OF FLAT GRAVE MARKERS.

       (a) Authority To Use Flat Grave Markers at Santa Fe 
     National Cemetery.--Notwithstanding section 2404(c)(2) of 
     title 38, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may provide for flat grave markers at the Santa Fe 
     National Cemetery, New Mexico.
       (b) Report Comparing Use of Flat Grave Markers and Upright 
     Grave Markers.--(1) Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the House of Representatives a report assessing 
     the advantages and disadvantages of the use by the National 
     Cemetery Administration of flat grave markers and upright 
     grave markers.
       (2) The report under paragraph (1) shall set forth the 
     advantages and disadvantages of the use of each type of grave 
     marker referred to in that paragraph, and shall include 
     criteria to be utilizing in determining whether to prefer the 
     use of one such type of grave marker over the other.
       In the amendment to the title, strike ``in the Atlanta, 
     Georgia, metropolitan area'' and all that follows through 
     ``metropolitan area'' and insert the following: ``in various 
     locations in the United States, and for other purposes''.

  Mr. COCHRAN. I ask unanimous consent the amendment be agreed to, the 
committee amendment be agreed to, the bill be read a third time and 
passed, the title amendment be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 1562) was agreed to.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, 
was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 695), as amended, was read the third time and passed, as 
follows:

                                 S. 695

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

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     establish, in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United 
     States Code, the following:
       (1) A national cemetery in the Atlanta, Georgia, 
     metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
     families.
       (2) A national cemetery in Southwestern Pennsylvania to 
     serve the needs of veterans and their families.
       (3) A national cemetery in the Miami, Florida, metropolitan 
     area to serve the needs of veterans and their families.
       (4) A national cemetery in the Detroit, Michigan, 
     metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
     families.
       (5) A national cemetery in the Sacramento, California, 
     metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
     families.
       (b) Consultation in Selection of Sites.--Before selecting 
     the sites for the national cemeteries to be established under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with--
       (1) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (1) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of Georgia and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area;
       (2) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (2) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of Pennsylvania and appropriate officials of 
     local governments in Southwestern Pennsylvania;
       (3) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (3) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of Florida and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Miami, Florida, metropolitan area;
       (4) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (4) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of Michigan and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Detroit, Michigan, metropolitan area;
       (5) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (5) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of California and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Sacramento, California, metropolitan area; 
     and
       (6) appropriate officials of the United States, including 
     the Administrator of General Services, with respect to land 
     belonging to the United States that would be suitable as a 
     location for the establishment of each such national 
     cemetery.
       (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 cemeteries 
     under subsection (a). The report shall set forth a schedule 
     for the establishment of each such cemetery and an estimate 
     of the costs associated with the establishment of each such 
     cemetery.

     SEC. 2. USE OF FLAT GRAVE MARKERS.

       (a) Authority To Use Flat Grave Markers at Santa Fe 
     National Cemetery.--Notwithstanding section 2404(c)(2) of 
     title 38, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may provide for flat grave markers at the Santa Fe 
     National Cemetery, New Mexico.
       (b) Report Comparing Use of Flat Grave Markers and Upright 
     Grave Markers.--(1) Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committees

[[Page S10266]]

     on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives a report assessing the advantages and 
     disadvantages of the use by the National Cemetery 
     Administration of flat grave markers and upright grave 
     markers.
       (2) The report under paragraph (1) shall set forth the 
     advantages and disadvantages of the use of each type of grave 
     marker referred to in that paragraph, and shall include 
     criteria to be utilizing in determining whether to prefer the 
     use of one such type of grave marker over the other.

  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to require the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for 
veterans.''
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to talk about the Senate passage of a bill I introduced that will 
extend the useful life of the Santa Fe National Cemetery in New Mexico. 
I also want to thank Senator Specter for his assistance that helped to 
make passage of this bill possible.
  The men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces 
have made immeasurable sacrifices for the principles of freedom and 
liberty that make this Nation unique throughout civilization. The 
service of veterans has been vital to the history of the Nation, and 
the sacrifices made by veterans and their families should not be 
forgotten.
  These veterans at the very least deserve every opportunity to be 
buried at a National Cemetery of their choosing. Unfortunately, 
projections show the Santa Fe National Cemetery will run out of space 
to provide casketed burials for our veterans at the conclusion of 2000. 
However, with Senate passage of this bill we have taken an important 
step to ensure the continued viability of the Santa Fe National 
Cemetery.
  I believe all New Mexicans can be proud of the Santa Fe National 
Cemetery that has grown from 39/100 of an acre to its current 77 acres. 
The cemetery first opened in 1868 and within several years was 
designated a National Cemetery in April of 1875.
  Men and women who have fought in all of our nation's wars hold an 
honored spot within the hallowed ground of the cemetery. Today the 
Santa Fe National Cemetery contains almost 27,000 graves that are 
mostly marked by upright headstones.
  The Senate's action today brings us another step closer to ensuring 
the Santa Fe National Cemetery will not be forced to close. The bill 
passed today allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for 
the use of flat grave markers that will extend the useful life of the 
cemetery until 2008.
  While I wish the practice of utilizing headstones could continue 
indefinitely if a veteran chose, my wishes are outweighed by my desire 
to extend the useful life of the cemetery. I would note that my desire 
is shared by the New Mexico Chapter of the American Legion, the 
Albuquerque Chapter of the Retired Officers' Association, and the New 
Mexico Chapter of the VFW who have all endorsed the use of flat grave 
markers.
  Finally, this is not without precedent because exceptions to the law 
have been granted on six prior occasions with the most recent action 
occurring in 1994 when Congress authorized the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to provide for the flat grave markers at the Willamette 
National Cemetery in Oregon.
  Mr. President, I again want to thank Senator Specter for his 
assistance and state how pleased I am with the Senate passage of this 
important bill.

                          ____________________