[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 680. Mr. BOOKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
       At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1083. PLOT AND INTERMENT ALLOWANCES PAID BY THE 
                   SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR SPOUSES AND 
                   CHILDREN OF VETERANS WHO ARE BURIED IN STATE 
                   CEMETERIES.

       (a) In General.--Section 2303 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new 
     subsection (e):
       ``(e)(1) In the case of an individual described in 
     paragraph (2) who is buried in a cemetery that is owned by a 
     State or by an agency or political subdivision of a State, 
     the Secretary shall pay to such State, agency, or political 
     subdivision the sum of $525 (as increased from time to time 
     under paragraph (3)) as a plot or interment allowance for 
     such individual.
       ``(2) An individual described in this paragraph is a 
     spouse, surviving spouse (which for purposes of this 
     subsection includes a surviving spouse who had a subsequent 
     remarriage), minor child (which for purposes of this 
     subsection includes a child under 21 years of age, or under 
     23 years of age if pursuing a course of instruction at an 
     approved educational institution), or, in the discretion of 
     the Secretary, unmarried adult child of any individual 
     described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), or (7) of section 
     2402 of this title.
       ``(3) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
     provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) 
     in the amount payable under paragraph (1) equal to the 
     percentage by which--
       ``(A) 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
       ``(B) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
     preceding the 12-month period described in subparagraph 
     (A).''.
       (b) Effective Date and Applicability.--The amendments made 
     by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and apply with respect to deaths 
     occurring after that date.
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