[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19444]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL CEMETERY FOR VETERANS IN THE 
                  ATLANTA, GEORGIA, METROPOLITAN AREA

                                 ______
                                 

              SPECTER (AND ROCKEFELLER) AMENDMENT NO. 1562

  Mr. COCHRAN (for Mr. Specter (for himself and Mr. Rockefeller)) 
proposed an amendment to the bill (S. 695) to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in 
Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area; as follows:

       On page 3, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following:
       (4) A national cemetery in the Detroit, Michigan, 
     metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
     families.
       (5) A national cemetery in the Sacramento, California, 
     metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their 
     families.
       On page 4, strike lines 3 and 4 and insert the following:
       Florida, metropolitan area;
       (4) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (4) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of Michigan and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Detroit, Michigan, metropolitan area;
       (5) in the case of the national cemetery to be established 
     under paragraph (5) of that subsection, appropriate officials 
     of the State of California and appropriate officials of local 
     governments in the Sacramento, California, metropolitan area; 
     and
       (6) appropriate officials of the United States, in--
       On page 4, after line 15, add the following:

     SEC. 2. USE OF FLAT GRAVE MARKERS.

       (a) Authority To Use Flat Grave Markers at Santa Fe 
     National Cemetery.--Notwithstanding section 2404(c)(2) of 
     title 38, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may provide for flat grave markers at the Santa Fe 
     National Cemetery, New Mexico.
       (b) Report Comparing Use of Flat Grave Markers and Upright 
     Grave Markers.--(1) Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the House of Representatives a report assessing 
     the advantages and disadvantages of the use by the National 
     Cemetery Administration of flat grave markers and upright 
     grave markers.
       (2) The report under paragraph (1) shall set forth the 
     advantages and disadvantages of the use of each type of grave 
     marker referred to in that paragraph, and shall include 
     criteria to be utilizing in determining whether to prefer the 
     use of one such type of grave marker over the other.
       In the amendment to the title, strike ``in the Atlanta, 
     Georgia, metropolitan area'' and all that follows through 
     ``metropolitan area'' and insert the following: ``in various 
     locations in the United States, and for other purposes''.

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