[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7010-S7011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MIKULSKI:
  S. 1124. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase 
burial benefits for veterans, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Veterans Burial 
Benefits Improvement Act.
  During the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, we will honor our U.S. 
soldiers who died in the name of their country. These service men and 
women are America's true heroes and on this day we pay tribute to their 
courage and sacrifice. Some have given their lives for our country. All 
have given their time and dedication to ensure our country remains the 
land of the free and the home of the brave. We owe a special debt of 
gratitude to each and every one of them.
  This holiday serves as an important reminder that our nation has a 
sacred commitment to honor the promises made to soldiers when they 
signed up to serve our country. As the Ranking Member of the Senate 
Appropriations Subcommittee that funds veterans programs, I fight hard 
to make sure promises made to our service men and women are promises 
kept. These promises include access to quality, affordable health care 
and a proper burial for our veterans.
  I am deeply concerned that burial benefits for the families of our 
wounded or disabled veterans have not kept up with inflation and rising 
funeral costs. We are losing over 1,000 World War II veterans each day, 
but Congress has failed to increase veterans' burial benefits to keep 
up with rising costs and inflation. While these benefits were never 
intended to cover the full costs of burial, they now pay for only a 
fraction of what they covered in 1973, when the Federal Government 
first started paying burial benefits for our veterans.
  I want to thank my colleagues on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for 
working with me in the 107th Congress. Together, we were able to 
increase modestly the service-connected benefit from $1,500 to $2,000, 
and the plot allowance from $150 to $300. While I believe these 
increases are a step in the right direction, they are not a substitute 
for the amounts included in my bill.
  That's why I am again introducing the Veterans Burial Benefits 
Improvement Act. This bill will increase burial benefits to cover the 
same percentage of funeral costs as they did in 1973. It will also 
provide for these benefits to be increased annually to keep up with 
inflation.
  In 1973, the service-connected benefit paid for 72 percent of 
veterans' funeral costs. Today, this benefit covers just 39 percent of 
funeral costs. My bill will increase the service-connected benefit from 
$2,000 to $3,713, bringing it back up to the original 72 percent level.
  In 1973, the non-service connected benefit paid for 22 percent of 
funeral costs. It has not been increased since 1978, and today it 
covers just 6 percent of funeral costs. My bill will increase the non-
service connected benefit from $300 to $1,135, bringing it back up to 
the original 22 percent level.
  In 1973, the plot allowance paid for 13 percent of veterans' funeral 
costs. Yet it now covers just 3 percent of funeral costs. My bill will 
increase the plot allowance from $300 to $670, bringing it back up to 
the original 13 percent level.
  Finally, the Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act will also 
ensure that these burial benefits are adjusted for inflation annually, 
so veterans won't have to fight this fight again.
  This legislation is just one way to honor our Nation's service men 
and women. I want to thank the millions of veterans, Marylanders, and 
people across the nation for their patriotism, devotion, and commitment 
to honoring the true meaning of Memorial Day. U.S. soldiers from every 
generation have shared in the duty of defending America and protecting 
our freedom. For these sacrifices, America is eternally grateful.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this legislation, and 
letters from several veterans' advocacy groups supporting it, be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1124

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Burial Benefits 
     Improvement Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. INCREASE IN BURIAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS.

       (a) Burial and Funeral Expenses.--(1) Section 2302(a) of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``$300'' 
     and inserting ``$1,135 (as increased from time to time under 
     section 2309 of this title)''.
       (2) Section 2303(a)(1)(A) of that title is amended by 
     striking ``$300'' and inserting ``$1,135 (as increased from 
     time to time under section 2309 of this title)''.
       (3) Section 2307 of that title is amended by striking 
     ``$2,000,'' and inserting ``$3,712 (as increased from time to 
     time under section 2309 of this title),''.
       (b) Plot Allowance.--Section 2303(b) of that title is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``$300'' the first place it and inserting 
     ``$670 (as increased from time to time under section 2309 of 
     this title)''; and
       (2) by striking ``$300'' the second place it appears and 
     inserting ``$670 (as so increased)''.
       (c) Annual Adjustment.--(1) Chapter 23 of that title is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 2309. Annual adjustment of amounts of burial benefits

       ``With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
     provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) 
     in the burial and funeral expenses under sections 2302(a), 
     2303(a), and 2307 of this title, and in the plot allowance 
     under section 2303(b) of this title, equal to the percentage 
     by which--
       ``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States 
     city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 
     preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the 
     increase is made, exceeds
       ``(2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
     preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of that chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``2309. Annual adjustment of amounts of burial benefits.''.

       (d) Effective Date.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph 
     (2), the amendments made by this section shall apply to 
     deaths occurring on or after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (2) No adjustments shall be made under section 2309 of 
     title 38, United States Code,

[[Page S7011]]

     as added by subsection (c), for fiscal year 2004.
                                  ____

                                                     May 15, 2003.
     Hon. Barbara Mikulski,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Mikulski: As Memorial Day 2003 approaches, the 
     co-authors of The Independent Budget would like to express 
     our strong support for your legislation which would 
     revitalize veterans' burial benefits and honor those who have 
     sacrificed for this country. This legislation would provide a 
     meaningful increase in burial benefits that is long overdue.
       Veterans' burial benefits have seriously eroded in value 
     over the years. The proposed increase would cover the same 
     percentage of veterans' burial costs that they covered in 
     1973 when they were initiated. The annual adjustment to cover 
     the costs of inflation is also something that The Independent 
     Budget has argued in favor of in the past.
       The Independent Budget produced by AMVETS, Disabled 
     American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the 
     Veterans of Foreign Wars fully supports the proposed 
     adjustment of burial allowances to reflect the increases in 
     burial costs. Clearly, it is time these benefits were raised 
     to provide a more meaningful contribution to the costs of 
     burial for veterans. We applaud your efforts to responsibly 
     address this matter, and we appreciate your continued 
     commitment to the men and women who have served this country 
     and are continuing to do so even today.
           Sincerely,
     Rick Jones,
       National Legislative Director, AMVETS.
     Richard B. Fuller,
       National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of 
     America.
     Joseph A. Violante,
       National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans.
     Dennnis Cullinan,
       National Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
     the United States.
                                  ____



                                    Fleet Reserve Association,

                                     Alexandria, VA, May 21, 2003.
     Hon. Barbara A. Mikulski,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Mikulski: The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) 
     and its 135,000 members extend its strong support for the 
     reintroduction of the Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement 
     Act. FRA applauds your leadership on working on this 
     important issue.
       As it has for more than 79 years, FRA effectively 
     represents the interests of Sea Services enlisted 
     communities, and is committed to ensuring equitable 
     compensation and benefits for active duty, reserve and 
     retired personnel.
       The FRA stands ready to assist you and your staff on the 
     introduction of this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Joseph L. Barnes,
     National Executive Secretary.
                                  ____

         The National Association of State Directors of Veterans 
           Affairs, Inc.,
                                                     May 20, 2003.
     Senator Barbara Mikulski,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Wasington, DC.
       Dear Senator Mikulski: The National Association of State 
     Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA) is in strong support 
     of the legislation you are proposing with regards to burial 
     benefits for our Nation's deceased veterans, namely, ``The 
     Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2003.''
       We recognize and thank you for your outstanding earlier 
     work with regards to veterans' burial benefits, including 
     authoring, introducing, and shepherding the Veterans Burial 
     Benefits Improvement Act of 2001 through the legislative 
     process. While it is regrettable that Congress declined to 
     enact all of the much needed measures you proposed, your work 
     did lead to important increases in the authorized allowance 
     for burial and funeral expenses for deceased veterans. We 
     appreciate and thank you for your introduction of this new 
     legislation.
       As you are aware, the 95th Congress enacted the State 
     Cemeteries Grant as part of Public Law 95-476 in order to 
     provide Federal assistance to the States to construct, 
     expand, and improve State veterans' cemeteries. State 
     veterans' cemeteries must be State-owned, and operated solely 
     for the interment of eligible veterans and their dependents 
     and/or spouses. Operational costs are paid by the States.
       State veterans' cemeteries continue to provide a cost-
     effective supplement to the VA's National Cemetery System. 
     However, Federal veterans' burial plot allowances currently 
     offset the costs of operation of State veterans' cemeteries 
     by only one-third of the total cost. Furthermore, the actual 
     allowances have been increased only incrementally since the 
     programs were first instituted in 1973, and the rate of 
     reimbursement has fallen far short of increases in the actual 
     costs of burial expenses and cemetery plots.
       Your bill proposes an increase to $3,713 for the burial 
     plot allowance for veterans who die as a direct result of a 
     service-connected illness or injury. When first enacted in 
     1973, the amount of the benefit at that time covered 72 
     percent of the average burial expense at that time. Today, 
     the current benefit of $2,000 covers just 39 percent of those 
     costs. Your earlier work helped to provide a much-needed 
     increase to the current level, and we fully endorse your 
     current efforts to ensure that the allowance is raised to 
     at least the 1973 rate.
       Your proposed legislation would also increase the amount of 
     the burial benefit to $1,135 for the non-service-connected 
     death of veterans in receipt of or otherwise found entitled 
     to VA compensation, VA pension, and veterans who die while 
     hospitalized or domiciled in a VA facility. The original 1973 
     benefit aided grieving families of deceased veterans by 
     offsetting the cost of burial and funeral expenses by 22 
     percent. Today, the $300 that is provided covers just 6 
     percent of those costs.
       Finally, your bill addresses the amount of funding provided 
     for veterans' burial plot allowances. Your earlier work 
     helped to provide a much-needed increase in that amount from 
     $150 to $300. However, as you know, the current amount 
     provides only 5.85 of the average cost of a burial plot, 
     while the 1973 rate provided 13 percent. We are in strong 
     support of your efforts to raise the allowance to its 1973 
     rate, at $670.
       We are hopeful that Congress will see fit to fully enact 
     the provisions of the Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement 
     Act of 2003. We also that Congress will enact legislation to 
     expand eligibility for the burial plot allowance for burial 
     in State Veterans Cemeteries to include all honorably 
     discharged veterans.
       Thank you again for your efforts on behalf of our Nation's 
     veterans. Your work is greatly appreciated.
           Sincerely,
                                                Raymond G. Boland,
     President, NASDVA.
                                  ____

                                                  National Funeral


                                        Directors Association,

                                     Washington, DC, May 15, 2003.
     Hon. Barbara A. Mikulski,
     U.S. Senate, Senate Hart Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Mikulski: The National Funeral Directors 
     Association (NFDA) represents more than 13,000 funeral homes 
     in all 50 states. It is the leading funeral service 
     organization in the United States, providing a national voice 
     for the profession. The NPDA has been the premier 
     organization chosen by top funeral directors for more than 
     120 years. NFDA members stand for credibility, ethics, 
     excellence and trust.
       The NFDA would like to thank you for your support of 
     legislation to increase the amount paid for veteran funeral 
     and burial expenses by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     (DVA), as well as to increase the amount for veteran plot 
     allowances.
       As you are well aware, the amount payable for veterans' 
     memorial benefits has remained constant for many years in 
     spite of inflation. Today, the average cost of a funeral, 
     including casket, vault and cemetery charges is about $7,500. 
     While funerals are still a modest expense when compared to 
     the cost of other items an individual must purchase during 
     the course of their lifetime, it is still a significant 
     expense, particularly for those least able to afford it.
       At a time of unimaginable grief, funeral directors deal 
     with the families of service members who must plan for the 
     funeral of their loved one. This process is never easy, but 
     it is even more difficult when a family must plan a funeral 
     within the current DVA funeral and burial expense limits.
       The NFDA strongly supports legislation that recognizes the 
     reality of the cost of a funeral and burial in 2003, and that 
     seeks to help the families of veterans manage this expense.
       Again, thank you for your interest and action on this 
     important issue.
           Sincercly,
                                                William A. Isokait
                                        NFDA Director of Advocacy.
                                 ______