[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 26230-26231]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL CEMETERY EXPANSION ACT OF 2003

  Mr. GRAHAM of Florida. Mr. President, today the House passed 
important legislation that has already unanimously passed the Senate 
and authorizes the construction of six new national veterans 
cemeteries. By passing this bill, we ensure that America's veterans and 
their families have access to the burial honors they have earned.
  The brave men and women who fought for our nation are a population 
that is aging rapidly. In 2002, America lost 646,264 veterans. 
Projections show that this rate will continue to climb through the year 
2008, when we are expected to lose over 700,000 veterans.
  By the end of 2004, only 64 of the 124 veterans national cemeteries 
will be available for both casketed and cremated remains. As cemetery 
service capabilities decrease, veterans in areas near cemeteries that 
are at capacity will lose access to burial options within a reasonable 
distance of their homes. In order to ensure that burial options are 
provided for veterans and their family members, we must develop new 
cemeteries and expand existing cemeteries. This process must start as

[[Page 26231]]

soon as possible because the construction of a new cemetery takes an 
average of seven years.
  In anticipation of veterans' future needs, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs conducted a study that identifies veteran population centers 
not served by an open national or state veterans cemetery. The report, 
``Future Burial Needs,'' was initially released in May 2002 and has 
been recently revised using veteran population estimates from the 2000 
census. The report identified 31 locations as areas where cemeteries 
would need to be established.
  Recognizing that it would not be practicable to establish national 
cemeteries in all 31 locations, especially in areas where state 
cemeteries could meet the needs of smaller veterans' populations, VA 
established guidelines to determine the neediest areas. In locations 
that had more than 170,000 veterans residing more than 75 miles from an 
open state or national cemetery, VA would establish or expand national 
cemeteries. Based on revised population estimates and the new 
guidelines, VA identified 11 locations that required either a new 
national cemetery or an expansion of an existing national cemetery. Of 
these locations, five will be served by an already-planned state 
cemetery funded through VA's State Cemetery Grants Program or by 
expanding existing national cemeteries. This bill directs the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to construct veterans cemeteries six 
cities: Jacksonville, Florida; Sarasota, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; 
Bakersfield, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Columbia, 
South Carolina.
  We cannot afford to wait any longer to fulfill this commitment to our 
nation's veterans. Mr. President, I am proud to have sponsored 
legislation to help provide peace of mind to veterans and their 
families at that difficult time. Now, I look forward to working with my 
colleagues on securing the necessary resources to begin construction of 
these cemeteries expeditiously.

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