[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 73 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3755-H3756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SERVICEMEMBER FAMILY BURIAL ACT

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4335) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide for headstones and markers for, and interment in national 
cemeteries of, deceased spouses and dependent children of members of 
the Armed Forces serving on active duty, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4335

       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 ``Servicemember Family Burial 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVISION OF 
                   HEADSTONES AND MARKERS FOR, AND INTERMENT IN 
                   NATIONAL CEMETERIES OF, SPOUSES AND DEPENDENT 
                   CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVING 
                   ON ACTIVE DUTY.

       (a) Headstones and Markers.--Section 2306(b)(2) of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, or the spouse of 
     a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty under 
     conditions other than dishonorable, as shown by a statement 
     from a general court-martial convening authority, at the time 
     of the spouse's death if such death occurs before October 1, 
     2024'' after ``veteran''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, or the eligible 
     dependent child of a member of the Armed Forces serving on 
     active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, as 
     shown by a statement from a general court-martial convening 
     authority, at the time of the child's death if such death 
     occurs before October 1, 2024'' after ``veteran''.
       (b) Interment in National Cemeteries.--Section 2402(a)(5) 
     of such title is amended by inserting ``, and the spouse, 
     minor child, and, in the discretion of the Secretary, 
     unmarried adult child of a member of the Armed Forces serving 
     on active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, as 
     shown by a statement from a general court-martial convening 
     authority, at the time of the spouse's or child's death if 
     such death occurs before October 1, 2024'' after ``paragraph 
     (7)''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4335, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4335, the 
Servicemember Family Burial Act, which was introduced by the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Correa), a member of our committee.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation allows for a veteran's spouse, minor 
children, and certain other dependents to be interred in a VA national 
cemetery, even while the veteran is still alive. This ensures that a 
family may be laid to rest together if the veteran chooses to use a 
national cemetery.
  But there is an unfortunate gap in the law that prevents Active-Duty 
servicemembers from burying their loved ones in a VA national cemetery. 
Mr. Correa's bill would extend VA burial benefits to Active-Duty 
servicemembers who lose their family members before they leave the 
military.
  To comply with budgeting rules, the manager's amendment would sunset 
this bill on September 30, 2024.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1645

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, when the VA provides burial and headstones or markers 
for eligible family members who predecease Active-Duty servicemembers, 
it is always under tragic and difficult circumstances.
  Of course we want to provide these benefits as seamlessly as possible 
so our servicemembers can move on with their lives. This bill codifies 
current practice to ensure VA's process of handling these issues with 
dignity, sensitivity, and compassion.
  I want to thank the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs 
Subcommittee Chairman  Mike Bost and Ranking Member Elizabeth Esty for 
their part in supporting and helping to bring this bill to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 4335, the 
Servicemember Family Burial Act, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support 
this commonsense bill, H.R. 4335, as amended, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4335, 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. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.

[[Page H3756]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________