[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 18833-18836]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1530
                NATIONAL CEMETERY EXPANSION ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1516) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
establish a national cemetery for veterans in southeastern 
Pennsylvania, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1516

       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 ``National Cemetery Expansion 
     Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

       (a) Establishment.--Not later than four years after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs, in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United 
     States Code, shall establish five new national cemeteries. 
     The new cemeteries shall be located in the following 
     locations (those locations having been determined by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be the most appropriate 
     locations for new national cemeteries):
       (1) Southeastern Pennsylvania.
       (2) The Birmingham, Alabama, area.
       (3) The Jacksonville, Florida, area.
       (4) The Bakersfield, California, area.
       (5) The Greenville/Columbia, South Carolina, area.
       (b) Funds.--Amounts appropriated for the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs for any fiscal year after fiscal year 2003 
     for Advance Planning shall be available for the purposes of 
     subsection (a).
       (c) Site Selection Process.--In determining the specific 
     sites for the new cemeteries required by subsection (a) 
     within the locations specified in that subsection, the 
     Secretary shall solicit the advice and views of 
     representatives of State and local veterans organizations and 
     other individuals as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (d) Initial Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the establishment of the national 
     cemeteries required by subsection (a). The report shall--
       (1) set forth a schedule for the establishment of each such 
     cemetery and an estimate of the costs associated with the 
     establishment of each such cemetery; and
       (2) identify the amount of Advance Planning Funds obligated 
     for purposes of this section as of the submission of the 
     report.
       (e) Annual Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     an annual report on the implementation of this section until 
     the establishment of all five cemeteries is completed and 
     each such cemetery has opened. The Secretary shall include in 
     each such annual report an update of the information provided 
     under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d).
       (f) Definition of Southeastern Pennsylvania.--In this 
     section, the term ``southeastern Pennsylvania'' means the 
     city of Philadelphia and Berks County, Bucks County, Chester 
     County, Delaware County, Philadelphia County, and Montgomery 
     County in the State of Pennsylvania.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) and the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons).
  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
   Mr. Speaker, in a sense, the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003 
is part of the legacy of the late chairman of the House Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, Bob Stump. It was Bob who composed many of the 
cemetery provisions ultimately signed into law as part of the Veterans 
Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act. Bob also took a particular 
interest in the need for improvements to our national cemeteries and to 
obtain an updated list of areas in the country where there was a 
significant unmet demand for a national cemetery. His vision of VA 
cemeteries as national shrines should inspire all of us and those 
responsible for maintaining VA cemeteries for years to come.
   According to existing VA planning guidelines, VA should establish 
cemeteries in locations that would provide service to 90 percent of 
veterans within 75 miles of their homes. H.R. 1516, as amended, 
reflects the findings of a recently completed VA study which found the 
areas of the country most in need of a new national cemetery.
   The study, performed by Logistic Management Institute, reviewed 
current and future burial needs of veterans and identified areas of the 
country where new national cemeteries might be constructed. They 
identified 31 areas with the greatest need and ranked them by the size 
of the population to be served. VA is expanding six cemeteries on the 
list currently serving veterans through land acquisitions, and State 
cemeteries are being planned in other areas to meet veterans' burial 
needs.
  H.R. 1516, as amended, would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
to establish a new national cemetery, not later than 4 years after the 
date of enactment, in those five areas, which would be southeastern 
Pennsylvania; Birmingham, Alabama; Jacksonville, Florida; Bakersfield, 
California; and Greenville-Columbia, South Carolina. More than 900,000 
veterans and their survivors will benefit from these additional 
national cemeteries.
   H.R. 1516, as amended, would also direct the Secretary to submit a 
report to Congress not later than 120 days after enactment on the 
establishment of the national cemeteries required by this bill.
   Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Gerlach) and his staff for their work on this bill and for working 
with the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman Brown) and the ranking 
member, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), to provide for the 
burial needs of veterans.
   I would also like to recognize committee staff, Paige McManus, 
Darryl Kehrer, Kingston Smith, Patrick Ryan, Mary Ellen McCarthy, 
Geoffrey Collver, and Jim Holley for their work on the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
   Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1516, the National 
Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003. I want to thank the chairman and the 
ranking Democrat of the full committee, the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), along with the 
chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Benefits, the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) and the gentleman from Maine 
(Mr. Michaud), for their good work in crafting this legislation.
   I am pleased that in H.R. 1516 we are providing for the 
authorization and establishment of five new national cemeteries in 
accordance with the VA's most current burial needs assessment report. 
The communities of southeastern Pennsylvania; Birmingham, Alabama; 
Jacksonville, Florida; Bakersfield, California; and Greenville-
Columbia, South Carolina, will certainly appreciate this measure.
   Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill, an important bill. The veterans of 
this Nation deserve nothing less than an honorable and dignified final 
resting place.
   Mr. Speaker, many brave men and women who put on the uniform to 
protect us during World War II and the

[[Page 18834]]

Korean War pass from us every day at alarming rates, and it is our 
responsibility to provide our veterans, our brave soldiers, with 
dignified and honorable final resting places. I look forward to working 
with my colleagues and the administration to meet this serious 
responsibility.
   Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support passage of this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
   Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Stearns), a distinguished member of our committee.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, obviously I rise in support of this bill. I am 
especially pleased that we are going to have a national cemetery in 
Jacksonville, Florida. This is in northeast-central Florida, where we 
have a lot of military presence, particularly with representation by 
three Members of Congress, myself, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Crenshaw), and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown). All 
three of us service Jacksonville and north-central Florida, so we are 
all very pleased this is being done.
   We have the Mayport Naval Station with an aircraft carrier stationed 
there, we also have Naval Air Station and Depot up there, and we've had 
a huge increase in the number of retirees that are locating into our 
area. So we are all very pleased about this. The VA Jacksonville 
cemetery has been the intent of a bill I dropped, H.R. 197, and also 
others I have offered in prior Congresses.
   As the 2,000 U.S. census shows, the revised projections forecasting 
a population of about 189,000 by FY 2005 in the ``VA Future Burial 
Needs Report Sites'' I think demonstrates what all of us know: our 
veterans are flocking to relaxed, sunny north-central Florida to 
retire. They deserve a resting place with dignity and beauty, and I 
think that this cemetery will add a lot to that promise.
  Mr. Speaker, Florida has our Nation's second largest veterans 
population and the number one in terms of age. Nearly 325,000 veterans 
call home somewhere in this northeast-central Florida area, 
Jacksonville vicinity. Moreover, an increasing number of current active 
duty armed services veterans are calling Florida their home and are 
moving into this area. This is because nearby Alachua County, 
Gainesville, where we have a VA hospital, and Derval County have sent a 
lot of reservists and National Guardsmen to Iraq; and this whole area 
sent so many people to Iraq in this northeast corridor that there is 
going to be a lot of people that are going to retire from active duty. 
So this cemetery will also be important for them.
   The closest VA cemetery is at least a 3-hour drive from 
Jacksonville, and as the subcommittee chairman mentioned the 
requirement is to have VA cemetery within 75 miles of the vicinity of 
these veterans. We need to have a VA cemetery now. So this will is 
going to meet this requirement.
   The next closest in proximity lies in Marietta, Georgia, which is 
just north of Atlanta. A new national VA cemetery in Jacksonville will 
answer this unmet need for north Floridians and southern Georgians.
   Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased. I offered this type of legislation 
in the 107th Congress and 106th Congress to locate a cemetery in 
Jacksonville, so I am grateful that we finally will pass this bill. I 
might add that there has been great support within the community, and 
they look forward to this construction.
   Lastly, Mr. Speaker, you might be thinking why are a lot of people 
are supporting a cemetery in Florida. They may think this is a very 
parochial bill. But for my colleagues from Michigan and New York, there 
is a high likelihood that your constituents are contemplating retiring 
to north-central Florida, so we welcome your veterans' and their 
commitment to our north Florida area. I hope all the people here in the 
House will support H.R. 1516.
   Let us provide the dignified, hallowed grounds for our veterans. 
They deserve it.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such 
time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Hoeffel).
  Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
time and congratulate her on her leadership on this issue.
   I rise in strong support of House bill 1516, and I want to start by 
acknowledging the great work of our colleague, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach). The gentleman has taken an issue that is an 
old issue in the Philadelphia area, trying to create new cemetery space 
for our veterans, and he has found a way to get this out of committee 
on to the floor for certain passage here today. I compliment the 
gentleman on it. It is important.
   For the last, I guess, five terms of Congress, Members have tried to 
create a new cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania. My predecessor, 
Congressman Jon Fox, introduced a bill in both of his two terms in 
Congress, with a similar bill introduced in the other body by Senator 
Arlen Specter, that would have named the Valley Forge National 
Historical Park as the setting for a new veterans cemetery, a setting I 
still think is the perfect location. There is some controversy and 
resistance to that. The important thing is that we get a new cemetery 
in southeastern Pennsylvania.
   In my first two terms, I introduced the same bill with the same 
support in the Senate. I lost that area in redistricting, and now the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach) has figured out a way to add 
other sites to southeastern Pennsylvania and move this bill forward 
with full support; and I thank the Members of the committee, the 
ranking members and, of course, the chairs of the full committee and 
the subcommittee, for putting together a bill with great support.
   This will create a clear and strict timetable to establish a new 
veterans cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania and four other locations 
around the country, with sensible and responsible reporting 
requirements placed upon the Secretary of Veterans Affairs so that 
Congress can make sure that these new cemeteries actually get opened.
   It is overdue, it is important legislation, and it is the right 
thing to do for our veterans. They have given so much to this country. 
It is entirely appropriate for us to make sure that all veterans who 
are interested in a final resting space in a national veterans cemetery 
have the opportunity to do it, and I know that the veterans in 
southeastern Pennsylvania will be very pleased by this progress.
   I congratulate the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach), as 
well as all involved.
  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach), and thank him, speaking as a 
veteran, for all of his hard work to bring this legislation to the 
floor.
  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut for 
yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Chairman Smith) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Evans), and their staffs for their great work in bringing H.R. 
1516 to the floor today, and I would also like to thank and acknowledge 
the kind comments of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel) and 
his great work and support in bringing this bill to this point today. I 
thank the gentleman for his work, not only this year, but in previous 
years in this effort. Also a special thank you to our colleagues on the 
Pennsylvania congressional delegation for their support as well.
  Most importantly, we would like to thank the veterans of southeastern 
Pennsylvania for their great service and sacrifice to our country over 
the years. This legislation was introduced last March to establish a 
new national veterans cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania; and as 
that bill moved through the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am very 
pleased to see that some additional sites were added. As was mentioned 
by the gentleman from Connecticut, Birmingham, Alabama; Jacksonville, 
Florida; Bakersfield, California; and the Columbia-Greenville, South 
Carolina, area were added.

[[Page 18835]]

   It would also require that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 
establish new and much-needed cemeteries within 4 years of the date of 
enactment of this legislation. Aside from establishing these important 
national cemeteries, another important provision of this measure will 
provide for local involvement in the selecting of sites for these 
cemeteries.
   Under the legislation, the Secretary for Veterans Affairs is 
directed to solicit the advice and the views of representatives of 
local veterans organizations and other individuals as the Secretary 
considers appropriate.
   The need for a new veterans cemetery in our community is well 
documented and long overdue. The Philadelphia National Cemetery is 
virtually closed, with the exception of cremated remains, to nearly 
400,000 veterans that reside in the five counties and make up the 
metropolitan Philadelphia area. And while cremation may be an 
alternative to traditional burial for some, it is not the preference of 
most. But, unfortunately, it is the only option that Philadelphia-area 
veterans currently have if they want their remains reposed at a 
veterans cemetery close to home.
   The only other national cemetery in our region is the Indiantown Gap 
National Cemetery, which is a long drive from the Philadelphia area, 
and can be a very difficult trip for widows, widowers, and other family 
members who want to visit the graves of their loved ones. I would note 
that more than 290,000 area veterans live over 65 miles from Indiantown 
Gap National Cemetery.
   The Secretary for Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi, has expressed 
his support for the establishment of a new cemetery in southeastern 
Pennsylvania after analyzing two factors not taken into account in a 
previous Veterans Affairs Department study.
   First, the Beverly National Cemetery in nearby Burlington County, 
New Jersey, is filling up faster than expected and is only available to 
New Jersey veterans. Additionally, the Department recently added Monroe 
County, Pennsylvania, to the greater Philadelphia service area, thereby 
increasing the number of veterans in need to over 170,000, the 
statistical benchmark for the establishment of a new cemetery.
   Secretary Principi also acknowledged that the Indiantown Gap 
National Cemetery in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, is at least 80 miles 
from Philadelphia, which contrasts with the Department's guideline of 
having a veterans cemetery within 75 miles of a veteran's home.

                              {time}  1545

  Consequently, the Secretary expressed his support for a new cemetery 
in the greater Philadelphia area to honor those who would be laid to 
rest there. This legislation will provide both for its establishment 
within a specified time period and allow for the input of local 
officials and veterans in determining a specific site.
  The importance of a veterans cemetery in the southeastern 
Pennsylvania region has been already recognized. In 1862, the 37th 
Congress created the National Cemetery of Philadelphia when they 
initially established what has become a large network of national 
cemeteries across the United States. Southeastern Pennsylvania veterans 
of today, as those of the past, should likewise have the opportunity to 
be buried close to home after providing the same level of heroic 
service and sacrifice to our Nation.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, and the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel) in particular, and also the 
members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for their work in 
bringing H.R. 1516 to the floor today, and I would urge all Members of 
the House to support this much-needed measure.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to urge my colleagues to support the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 
2003. For a veteran, a funeral service is the last official ceremony 
that that veteran will participate in; and for the family, that 
cemetery becomes a place of remembrance and love. It is so important to 
these families that they be able to visit their departed veteran in 
this environment.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, today, 9.3 million veterans are over 65. 
Sadly, 1,500 veterans pass away every day in the United States. The 
National Cemetery Expansion Act, provides more national cemeteries so 
that veterans' families can ensure their loved ones have a proper 
burial. I strongly support this legislation offered by Congressman 
Gerlach. In addition to providing more cemeteries, this Congress also 
needs to address the almost non-existent burial benefits provided by 
the VA.
  Burial benefits have seriously eroded due to inflation; leaving 
states and families to make up the cost. Paying for rising burial 
expenses is a growing concern to families and veterans cemeteries. I 
have introduced a bill to increase burial benefits for veterans buried 
in state and national cemeteries. This bill would provide veterans 
families with the same percentage of burial costs as promised in 1973. 
I encourage this Congress to support my colleague's bill to increase 
the number of National Veterans Cemeteries, and to reestablish burial 
benefits for the families of our national heroes.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1516, the 
National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003.
  I again want to express my appreciation to the Chairman of the full 
Committee, Chris Smith, along with the Chairman and Ranking Member of 
the Benefits Subcommittee, Henry Brown and Michael Michaud for their 
good work in crafting this legislation.
  I am pleased that in H.R. 1516 we are authorizing the establishment 
of five new national cemeteries according to the VA's most current 
burial needs assessment report. We must provide a peaceful and 
dignified setting to honor the many men and women who bravely served 
this country in uniform.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we have many other communities in great 
need of additional veterans' cemetery burial space. As we all know, the 
men and women of the ``greatest generation'' who served this country so 
grandly in World War II and Korea have reached their senior years. Well 
over 1,000 World War II veterans pass away each day, and this rate is 
projected to increase for years to come. Mr. Speaker, it is our 
responsibility to provide proper final resting places for our veterans. 
I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Administration to 
meet this serious responsibility.
  Mr. Speaker, this measure deserves the support of all Members and I 
urge my colleagues to vote for its passage.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I too rise in strong support of H.R. 1516, 
the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003.
  I would like to thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Evans for 
their leadership on the full Committee. I also want to recognize and 
thank Henry Brown, Chairman of the Benefits Subcommittee, for his good 
work and bipartisan efforts in working with me to craft this 
legislation and bring this measure to the House floor.
  I am pleased that in H.R. 1516 we are authorizing the establishment 
of five new national cemeteries according to the VA's most current 
burial needs assessment report. Our veterans who served and protected 
us deserve nothing less than a proper final resting place.
  Fortunately, the veterans in my district in Maine are not wanting for 
additional cemetery space thanks to a new state veterans' cemetery 
recently established in Caribou, ME. However, far too many communities 
are in need of a new veteran's cemetery. We must provide the resources 
to meet this need--It is our responsibility.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a sound measure. I urge all Members to support 
its passage.
  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1516, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SIMMONS. 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 and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further

[[Page 18836]]

proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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