“A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a new national cemetery in the State of Hawai'i, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states congressional findings concerning eligibility for burial in national cemeteries under 38 U.S.C. 2402, the National Cemetery Administration's goals of ensuring 95 percent of veterans live within 75 miles of a cemetery and improving burial benefits access and usage, and the need for a new national cemetery in Hawai‘i. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Hawai‘i's only national cemetery, has been closed to casketed burials since 1991 and will stop accepting cremated remains by 2036, forcing veterans seeking in-ground burial to choose cemeteries at least 2,500 miles away and creating financial and logistical burdens.
This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a new national cemetery in Hawaii in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. In selecting a site, the Secretary must prioritize locations near population centers, accessible by existing transportation, and with minimized environmental impact and must consult the Governor of Hawaii, local veterans service organizations, and other appropriate entities. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must report to the congressional Committees on Veterans' Affairs potential sites for the cemetery. Not later than two years after enactment, and annually thereafter until the cemetery is operational, the Secretary must report progress to the same committees on site selection, environmental impact assessment, land acquisition, master planning and design, construction documents, contract awards, construction completion, and operations startup.