[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 126 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9718-S9719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ENZI:
  S. 3020. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
establish a national cemetery for veterans in the Cheyenne, Wyoming, 
metropolitan area, to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise today with great honor and pride to 
introduce a bill that would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
establish a national cemetery for veterans in Cheyenne, WY.
  As our Nation's veterans have proven time and time again, whenever 
the fear of war has knocked on America's door, we have had the strength 
to open it. This year has been no different. Since last September, we 
have witnessed the beginning of a new kind of war, a war on terrorism, 
and we have been confronted by the most evil of leaders who seek to 
destroy our love of country and freedom. Yet, our Nation's military men 
and women and our veterans have once again responded to the call of 
duty to protect everything we hold dear. They remind us that our faith 
in God, our belief and trust in our communities, and our strength as a 
Nation can and will endure through these extraordinary times.
  This is why I am introducing a bill to honor those who have given so 
much in defense of our great country. The price of freedom is not free, 
and many of our Nation's veterans have paid the ultimate price. 
Millions have been laid to rest in our Nation's national cemeteries, 
and millions more will follow. These veterans deserve to be placed next 
to those veterans with whom they so courageously engaged in battle 
throughout the years.
  All veterans deserve the opportunity to be buried in a veterans 
cemetery regardless of their place of residency. Fortunately, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes the importance of providing 
burial sites for our Nation's veterans next to their comrades and near 
their families. As such, they have established a goal to increase the 
percentage of veterans served by a national or State veterans cemetery 
within 75 miles of their residence to 88 percent by 2006. I commend the 
VA's efforts and believe my bill will help the department reach that 
goal.
  There are currently more than 53,000 veterans in Wyoming. They live 
in every town, big and small, and they must often travel hundreds of 
miles for health care and other veteran benefits. The largest and most 
concentrated group of veterans in Wyoming live near Wyoming's only 
military base, F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne. Unfortunately, 
this veteran population must travel either 110 miles to the national 
cemetery in Colorado or 235 miles to the national cemetery in Maxwell, 
NE. It is worse for the veteran population living in other areas of the 
State. There are no national cemeteries in Montana, Idaho or Utah, 
which leaves veterans in the northwest with few options.
  Regardless of a veteran's place of residency in Wyoming, most are 
forced to select the Wyoming State Cemetery as their place of burial 
because it is the only state or national cemetery in the entire state. 
Although it is located in Wyoming's second-largest city of Casper, 
Wyoming's State cemetery does not adequately meet the needs of veterans 
in a State that spans more than 97,000 square miles. It is, on average, 
150 miles from any other incorporated city, and is more than 175 miles 
from the most concentrated veteran population in Cheyenne. While I 
commend the Wyoming State Cemetery for its exceptional service and 
careful maintenance, this is an extraordinary distance for friends and 
family to travel to visit their deceased loved ones.
  As such, I am introducing legislation today to create a National 
Veterans Cemetery in Cheyenne, WY because every veteran deserves to be 
buried near their families and with the honor that comes with being 
laid to rest in a national veterans cemetery.
  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. 3020

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

[[Page S9719]]

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CEMETERY IN CHEYENNE, 
                   WYOMING, METROPOLITAN AREA.

       (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 Cheyenne, Wyoming, 
     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 Wyoming and local 
     officials of the Cheyenne 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) Authority to Accept Donation of Parcel of Land.--(1) 
     The Secretary may accept on behalf of the United States the 
     gift of an appropriate parcel of real property. The Secretary 
     shall have administrative jurisdiction over such parcel of 
     real property, and shall use such parcel to establish the 
     national cemetery under subsection (a).
       (2) For purposes of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, 
     the real property accepted under paragraph (1) shall be 
     considered as a gift to the United States.
       (d) Report.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     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 the 
     establishment of the national cemetery and an estimate of 
     costs associated with the establishment of the national 
     cemetery.
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