[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 41 (Monday, March 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2901-S2902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SPECTER:
  S. 618. A bill to designate certain lands in the Valley Forge 
National Historical Park as the Valley Forge National Cemetery, to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, today I renew my efforts that began on 
September 29, 1998, to authorize the creation of the Valley Forge 
National Cemetery. I am introducing this bill to coincide with a news 
conference that Congressman Joseph Hoeffel is holding today in 
Montgomery County, PA, and I join with the entire Pennsylvania 
delegation in the House, in announcing our joint intention to see this 
matter resolved this year. Congressman Hoeffel will introduce a 
companion bill, and I am pleased to join him in this effort. I had 
hoped to be with Congressman Hoeffel at Valley Forge today, but was not 
able to join him due to a prior commitment. I nevertheless commend him, 
and the entire Pennsylvania delegation in the House, for their 
leadership in advancing this legislation. I am anxious to begin the 
fight for this worthy endeavor.
  A national cemetery located at Valley forge would not only be a 
fitting final resting place for the Nation's veterans because of the 
area's historical significance, it would also provide the veterans of 
southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey with their only 
national cemetery burial option within a reasonable distance from the 
homes of their loved ones.
  This legislation would designate 200 acres of land within the Valley 
Forge National Historic Park for use by the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, VA, to create a national cemetery. The cemetery would fall 
under the jurisdiction of VA's National Cemetery Administration, the 
agency charged with administering 119 national cemeteries nationwide.
  The need for a national cemetery at or near Valley Forge first gained 
my attention in 1998. Back then, I joined with then-Congressman Jon 
Fox, and the entire Pennsylvania delegation in the House, in 
introducing legislation, S. 2530, to create the Valley Forge National 
Cemetery. Unfortunately, that measure was not acted on after its 
referral to the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee. It is my 
understanding that opposition to the legislation arouse due to 
concerns, misplaced concerns, in my estimation, that the presence of a 
veterans' cemetery might somehow be inconsistent with the historic 
nature of the Valley Forge Park site.
  I am advised that the National Park Service, NPS, the agency charged 
with administering over 3,000 acres of federally owned land at the 
Valley Forge National Historic Park, has expressed reservations about 
giving up Valley Forge land for cemetery use. I am told that NPS is 
concerned that a cemetery

[[Page S2902]]

would denigrate the historical significance of the Park. While these 
concerns may be held in good faith, I believe the presence of national 
cemeteries at other historical sites proves that the historical 
significance of an event or area is heightened not degraded, by the 
presence of a cemetery honoring those who served in the military.
  Two NPS-administered cemeteries, Gettysburg National Cemetery and 
Andersonville National Cemetery, prove my point. Although Gettysburg is 
not closed for new burials, it is the final resting place of veterans 
from all of the country's major wars; Andersonville is still open to 
new burials. Does the presence of deceased veterans at these Civil War 
sites detract from their solemnity? I think not. In any case, the 
acreage that would be transferred to VA under my bill is not the site 
of the original 1777 encampment of General Washington and his men.
  The need for a national cemetery in the Philadelphia area is 
particularly acute. The three closest national cemeteries for 
Philadelphians--the Philadelphia, Beverly, and Finns Point national 
cemeteries--have been closed to new burials since the 1960s. The 
closest open national cemetery at Indiantown Gap, PA, is over 2 hours 
away and, at best, will only remain open for new burials until 2030.
  Pennsylvania has the fifth largest 65-and-older veteran population in 
the United States. Estimates from the VA indicate that WWII veterans 
are passing away at a rate of 1,000 a day, and that the number of 
annual veteran deaths will reach its peak in 2008. Since national 
cemeteries take, on average, 7 years to build, we must move quickly to 
provide an appropriate burial option for Philadelphia-area veterans.
  Our Nation's national cemeteries provide a lasting, dignified 
memorial to the service so many veterans have given to our country. I 
have received many letters from widows and family members of veterans 
explaining how much having their loved ones; service honored by an 
appropriate burial can mean. Providing lasting tributes to this 
country's heroes sends several messages to all our citizens. It reminds 
them that we uphold the virtues of serving in the military; we honor 
the sacrifices veterans have made; and we will never forget that our 
freedoms are linked with their sacrifices. It is time to move 
expeditiously to provide Philadelphia area veterans with the 
opportunity to be so remembered and honored by authorizing a national 
cemetery at Valley Forge.
  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. 618

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF LANDS AS VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL 
                   CEMETERY.

       (a) In General.--Not more than 200 acres of land located 
     within the Valley Forge National Historical Park on the day 
     before the date of the enactment of this Act are hereby 
     designated as the Valley Forge National Cemetery. 
     Administrative jurisdiction over such lands is hereby 
     transferred to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and such 
     lands shall be administered as a national cemetery in 
     accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code 
     (relating to national cemeteries and memorials).
       (b) Adjustment of Park Boundaries.--Subsection (b) of 
     section 2 of the Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the 
     Secretary of the Interior to establish the Valley Forge 
     National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 
     and for other purposes'' (16 U.S.C. 410aa-1) is amended by 
     striking ``map entitled `Valley Forge National Historical 
     Park', dated June 1979, and numbered VF-91,001'' and 
     inserting ``map entitled `Valley Forge National Historical 
     Park', dated ____, and numbered ____''.
                                 ______