Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2009

Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2009 - Increases the authorized allowance for burial and funeral expenses for deceased veterans who: (1) at the time of death were in receipt of veterans' disability compensation or veterans' pension benefits; or (2) were veterans of any war or were discharged or released from active military service for a service-connected disability and for whom there is no next of kin or sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial costs.

Increases the burial plot allowance for veterans who, at the time of death, were receiving hospital or nursing home care in or through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Authorizes the annual adjustment of such allowances by the same percentage increase as adjustments to benefit amounts payable under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act.

[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4045 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4045

To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for 
                   veterans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 6, 2009

Ms. Berkley (for herself, Mr. Filner, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. 
   Hall of New York, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Nye, Mr. Hare, Mr. Teague, Mr. 
  Snyder, Mr. Rodriguez, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Ellsworth, Mr. Moore of 
  Kansas, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Engel, Mr. Space, Mr. Grayson, Mr. Wu, Mr. 
 Driehaus, Ms. Titus, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Watson, 
 Mr. Serrano, Mr. Adler of New Jersey, Mr. Schauer, Mr. Murphy of New 
   York, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, Mr. 
  Altmire, Mr. Higgins, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Cardoza, Mrs. Maloney, Mrs. 
 Kirkpatrick of Arizona, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, and Mr. Sarbanes) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for 
                   veterans, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement 
Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN BURIAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Burial and Funeral Expenses.--(1) Section 2302(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``$300'' and inserting 
``$1,270 (as increased from time to time under section 5312(a) of this 
title)''.
    (2) Section 2303(a)(1)(A) of such title is amended by striking 
``$300'' and inserting ``$1,270 (as increased from time to time under 
section 5312(a) of this title)''.
    (3) Section 2307 of such title is amended by striking ``$2,000,'' 
and inserting ``$4,100 (as increased from time to time under section 
5312(a) of this title),''.
    (b) Plot Allowance.--Section 2303(b) of such title is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$300'' and inserting 
        ``$745 (as increased from time to time under section 5312(a) of 
        this title)''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$300'' the second place 
        it appears and inserting ``$745 (as increased from time to time 
        under section 5312(a) of this title)''.
    (c) Annual Adjustment.--Section 5312(a) of such title is amended by 
striking ``and each rate of monthly allowance paid under section 1805 
of this title,'' and inserting ``each rate of monthly allowance paid 
under section 1805 of this title, each rate of burial and funeral 
expenses provided for under sections 2302(a), 2303(a)(1)(A), and 2307 
of this title, and each rate of plot allowance provided for under 
section 2303(b) of this title,''.
    (d) Effective Date.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
amendments made by this section shall apply to deaths occurring on or 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (2) No adjustments shall be made under section 5312(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, as amended by subsection (c), for fiscal year 2010 
for rates of burial and funeral expenses provided for under sections 
2302(a), 2303(a)(1)(A), and 2307 of title 38, United States Code, and 
each rate of plot allowance provided for under section 2303(b) of such 
title.
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