[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1087-E1088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DIGNIFIED INTERMENT OF OUR VETERANS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 21, 2015

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shed light on an issue 
plaguing our nation's veterans, and to thank two of my constituents 
from Fayette County, Mr. Lanny Golden, a Vietnam Veteran, and Mr. Ron 
Metros, a member of Rolling Thunder's Pennsylvania Chapter 5, for 
working with me on legislation to return dignity and respect to our 
country's heroes.
   There are an estimated 47,000 unclaimed veteran remains that have 
been left to collect dust on funeral home shelves because the next of 
kin has not or could not be identified. Existing legislation directs 
the Veteran Affairs Administration, veteran service organizations, and 
funeral directors to work together in identifying veteran status for 
the deceased and making every effort to locate the next of kin. 
Unfortunately, there are a host of barriers that prevent effective 
collaboration among these stakeholders. For example, in my state of 
Pennsylvania, the Missing in America Project found nearly 100 unclaimed 
veterans within a couple years' time. Some of those veterans were 
sitting on shelves for more than 20 years awaiting burial.
   We can speculate regarding the reason for this disgrace but we 
cannot know for sure without giving this issue the attention it 
deserves. That is why I have introduced H.R. 1338 ``Dignified Interment 
of Our Veterans Act of 2015.'' My bill requires the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on matters relating to the claiming 
and interring of unclaimed veteran remains. The intent of the study is 
to confirm the scope of this problem, uncover any barriers associated 
with claiming and interring veteran remains, and solicit 
recommendations from the Department of Veterans Affairs on potential 
program improvements. This is the first step in returning honor to our 
country's heroes.
   Again, I would like to thank Mr. Metros and Mr. Golden for their 
dedicated work in service to our country's veterans. When asked why he 
is so passionate about this issue, Mr. Golden, who served with the 
First Air Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War, simply replied that 
these are his Brothers in Arms and they deserve to be buried beside 
those that have walked the same path.

[[Page E1088]]

   I fully agree with Mr. Golden and would like to say thank you to all 
who have served this great nation. I will make every effort to ensure 
your final resting place be of dignity and honor. We will not forget 
you.

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