[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2913-H2914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       FINAL FAREWELL ACT OF 2016

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3715) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit interments, 
funerals, memorial services, and ceremonies of deceased veterans at 
national cemeteries and State cemeteries receiving grants from the 
Department of Veterans Affairs during certain weekends if requested for 
religious reasons, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3715

       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 ``Final Farewell Act of 
     2016''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF INTERMENTS, FUNERALS, MEMORIAL 
                   SERVICES, AND CEREMONIES AT NATIONAL CEMETERIES 
                   AND STATE CEMETERIES RECEIVING GRANTS DURING 
                   WEEKENDS.

       (a) National Cemeteries.--Section 2404 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(i) The Secretary shall permit the interment or funeral, 
     memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a 
     national cemetery during weekends, other than Federal holiday 
     weekends, upon a request of the next-of-kin of the 
     veteran.''.
       (b) State Cemeteries.--Section 2408(c) of such title is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
     paragraph (2):
       ``(2) In addition to the conditions specified in subsection 
     (b) and paragraph (1), any grant to a State under this 
     section to assist such State in establishing a veterans' 
     cemetery shall be made on the condition that

[[Page H2914]]

     such cemetery shall permit the interment or funeral, memorial 
     service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at the cemetery 
     during weekends, other than Federal holiday weekends, upon a 
     request of the next-of-kin of the veteran.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
       (d) Notice Requirement.--Upon receipt of a request for an 
     application for burial or interment in a national cemetery, 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide notice to the 
     individual submitting the request of the opportunity to 
     request the interment or funeral, memorial service, or 
     ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery during 
     weekends, other than Federal holiday weekends, as authorized 
     by subsection (i) of section 2404 of title 38, United States 
     Code, as added by subsection (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3715, as amended, the 
Final Farewell Act of 2016.
  We know that it can sometimes be a challenge to take time away from 
work to attend a funeral or a memorial service for a loved one. This 
bill, which is sponsored by the ranking member of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, Congresswoman Corrine Brown of Florida, would lessen 
that challenge for those arranging to attend the funeral service of a 
veteran buried in a national cemetery.
  This bill would require VA, upon the request of the family of the 
deceased, to permit weekend funerals and memorial services. In doing 
so, this bill would allow more family members and friends to pay final 
respects to their loved ones as they are laid to rest.
  Our veterans--the men and women who sacrificed so much for us--have 
earned the right to be treated with honor and respect after they pass 
on. Although I support this bill, I understand that some of the State 
Directors of Veterans Affairs have raised concerns with the restriction 
it contains on grants to State and tribal cemeteries who receive 
Federal grants. I look forward to working with the ranking member to 
address these concerns during the upcoming negotiations with the 
Senate.
  I want to thank Ms. Brown once again for sponsoring this legislation 
and bringing this very important issue to our attention. I urge all of 
my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3715, as amended, the 
Final Farewell Act. This bill is of great importance to many families 
who traditionally hold funerals on weekends.
  While the VA has the authority to provide weekend services to 
veterans and their families, they rarely do. This has been a particular 
challenge for various religions and cultures who bury their loved ones 
on Saturday. Furthermore, these families are forced to bear the cost of 
storing their loved one's remains over the weekend. However, this bill, 
as amended, makes weekend burials available to all veterans, regardless 
of their reasoning and need for a weekend burial.
  This benefit for our veterans is to honor their service to our 
country. Their loved ones should have the opportunity to mourn their 
loss at a time that works for them. I thank all Members for their 
consideration and support for this commonsense change.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Miller for his support of this 
important legislation, and I urge passage of this very important bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3715, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to permit interments, funerals, memorial services, and 
ceremonies of deceased veterans at national cemeteries and State 
cemeteries receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
during certain weekends.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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