[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H6336-H6337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEADSTONES, MARKERS, AND MEDALLIONS FOR
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4757) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
expand the eligibility for headstones, markers, and medallions
furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for deceased individuals
who were awarded the Medal of Honor and are buried in private
cemeteries, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4757
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEADSTONES, MARKERS,
AND MEDALLIONS FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.
Section 2306(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5)(A) In carrying out this subsection with respect to a
deceased individual described in subparagraph (C), the
Secretary shall furnish, upon request, a headstone or marker
under paragraph (1) or a medallion under paragraph (4) that
signifies the deceased's status as a Medal of Honor
recipient.
``(B) If the Secretary furnished a headstone, marker, or
medallion under paragraph (1) or (4) for a deceased
individual described in subparagraph (C) that does not
signify the deceased's status as a Medal of Honor recipient,
the Secretary shall, upon request, replace such headstone,
marker, or medallion with a headstone, marker, or medallion,
as the case may be, that so signifies the deceased's status
as a Medal of Honor recipient.
``(C) A deceased individual described in this subparagraph
is a deceased individual who--
``(i) served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917;
``(ii) is eligible for a headstone or marker furnished
under paragraph (1) or a medallion furnished under paragraph
(4) (or would be so eligible for such headstone, marker, or
medallion but for the date of the death of the individual);
and
``(iii) was awarded the Medal of Honor (including
posthumously).''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 112(a) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by striking ``veterans,'' and all that
follows through ``service,'' and inserting the following:
``persons eligible for burial in a national cemetery by
reason of any of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), or (7) of section
2402(a) of this title,''.
(b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
shall apply with respect to the
[[Page H6337]]
death of a person eligible for burial in a national cemetery
by reason of paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (7) of section
2402(a) of title 38, United States Code, occurring before,
on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano)
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 have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
to include any extraneous material on H.R. 4757, as amended.
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 to urge all of our colleagues to support H.R.
4757, as amended. This bill would expand two different honors for our
Nation's heroes, guaranteeing that their service would never be
forgotten.
First, the bill would expand eligibility for a Presidential Memorial
Certificate to members of the National Guard or Reserve. Mr. Speaker,
Presidential Memorial Certificates are engraved certificates that are
signed by the President and sent to a deceased servicemember's family,
honoring their loved one's service and sacrifice to our country. My
bill would ensure that all service is recognized and cherished because
all servicemembers take the exact same oath to support and to defend
the Constitution of the United States.
Second, H.R. 4757, as amended, would allow the VA to furnish a
headstone, marker, or medallion signifying that the deceased was
awarded the Medal of Honor. We all know that veterans who were awarded
the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor, deserve to have their
service recognized both in life and after they pass. This bill would
make it easier for visitors at any cemetery to pay their respects to
Medal of Honor recipients by allowing them to quickly identify our
national heroes.
Moreover, these headstones, markers, or medallions will also continue
to inspire the next generation of Americans who will be serving our
country. I hope that in 100, 200, or even 1,000 years from now future
Americans will still take the time to find the graves of these
incredibly brave men and women and give thanks that they are living in
the greatest Nation in the history of this world. This legislation
would help us fulfill our duty as a nation to encourage continued
respect and admiration for those that have gone on before us.
I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 4757, as amended.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise to offer my unqualified support for H.R. 4757, Chairman
Miller's bill that updates current law to ensure our Nation's heroes
are accorded the recognition they deserve, particularly those afforded
the Nation's highest honor for valor, the Medal of Honor.
First, H.R. 4757 directs the VA to provide, upon request, a
distinctive headstone, marker, or medallion to Medal of Honor
recipients who are buried in private cemeteries. This bill is necessary
because current law actually prohibits the Secretary from furnishing
these honors to recipients not buried in national cemeteries.
Second, while the VA sends a Presidential Memorial Certificate that
expresses the Nation's recognition and gratitude of military service to
family members of a deceased veteran, current law limits Presidential
Memorial Certificates to the families of those who served in regular
armed services or National Guard and Reserve members who were called to
Active Duty. H.R. 4757 very rightly expands eligibility for a
Presidential Memorial Certificate to members of the Reserve component
of the Armed Forces and the Army National Guard or the Air National
Guard eligible for interment or inurnment in national cemeteries.
Finally, current law only allows VA to pay for the cost of
transporting the remains of a deceased veteran to the nearest open
national cemetery. If it is the family's choice instead to be buried in
a State or tribal veteran's cemetery, H.R. 4757 authorizes VA to pay
the costs associated with transporting the remains of an eligible
deceased veteran to that cemetery nearest to the deceased veteran's
last residence.
Mr. Speaker, honoring the memory of deceased veterans is our greatest
responsibility at the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and I am pleased
to support Chairman Miller's legislation which refines and improves on
the ways we are doing that. I encourage my colleagues to support this
important legislation and join me in passing H.R. 4757, as amended.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I, too, urge all my colleagues to
support H.R. 4757, as amended.
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. 4757, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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