No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states congressional findings on national cemetery burial eligibility under 38 U.S.C. 2402 and National Cemetery Administration (NCA) access goals (i.e., ensuring 95% of veterans live within 75 miles of a cemetery), including the closure of Hawaii's National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific to casketed burials since 1991 and to cremated remains by 2036, which forces veterans there to select cemeteries at least 2,500 miles away. (Thus, the findings declare that equitable access requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to immediately initiate construction of a new national cemetery in Hawaii, a process that requires six phases and may take over eight years.)
This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a new national cemetery in Hawai‘i in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code (i.e., the National Cemeteries program, which provides burial spaces and benefits for eligible veterans and family members), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. In selecting a site, the Secretary must prioritize locations near population centers, accessible by existing transportation modes, and with minimal environmental impact, and consult with the Governor of Hawai‘i, local representatives of veterans service organizations, and other appropriate entities. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional Committees on Veterans' Affairs a report identifying potential sites; not later than two years after enactment and annually thereafter until the cemetery is operational, the Secretary must submit progress reports covering site selection, environmental impact assessment, land acquisition, master planning and design, construction documents, contract awards, construction completion, and operations.