Dignity for our Nation's Heroes Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to cover the burial and funeral expenses of a deceased veteran: (1) who is homeless, has no next of kin or other person claiming the body, and does not have sufficient resources to cover such expenses; (2) whose service in the Armed Forces was not during wartime; and (3) who was either discharged under honorable conditions or died during a period deemed to be active service.
Prohibits any deduction from the burial allowance because of a veteran's assets or because of any contribution toward the burial and funeral expenses, unless the expenses incurred are covered by the United States, a state, an agency or political subdivision of the United States or a state, or the veteran's employer.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6042 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6042
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand burial benefits for
certain homeless veterans.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 30, 2010
Mr. Klein of Florida (for himself and Ms. Berkley) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand burial benefits for
certain homeless veterans.
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 ``Dignity for our Nation's Heroes
Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF BURIAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS.
(a) Homeless Veterans.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 23 of such title is amended by
inserting after section 2302 the following new section:
``Sec. 2302A. Funeral expenses for homeless veterans not serving during
wartime
``(a) Payment of Funeral Expenses.--The Secretary, in the
Secretary's discretion, having due regard to the circumstances in each
case, may pay a sum not exceeding the amount authorized under section
2302(a) of this title to such person as the Secretary prescribes to
cover the burial and funeral expenses of a deceased veteran described
in subsection (b) and the expense of preparing the body and
transporting it to the place of burial.
``(b) Homeless Veteran.--A deceased veteran described in this
subsection is an individual--
``(1) whom the Secretary determines--
``(A) is a homeless veteran (as defined in section
2002(1) of this title);
``(B) has no next of kin or other person claiming
the body of the deceased veteran; and
``(C) does not have available sufficient resources
to cover burial and funeral expenses;
``(2) whose service in the Armed Forces was not during
wartime; and
``(3) who was either--
``(A) discharged from the active military, naval,
or air service under honorable conditions; or
``(B) died during a period deemed to be active
military, naval, or air service under section 106(c) of
this title.
``(c) Deductions.--(1) Except as provided in this subsection, no
deduction shall be made from the burial allowance because of the
veteran's net assets at the time of the death of such veteran, or
because of any contribution from any source toward the burial and
funeral expenses (including transportation) unless the amount of
expenses incurred is covered by the amount actually paid therefor by
the United States, a State, any agency or political subdivision of the
United States or of a State, or the employer of the deceased veteran.
``(2) No claim shall be allowed--
``(A) for more than the difference between the entire
amount of the expenses incurred and an amount paid by the
United States, a State, any agency or political subdivision of
the United States or of a State, or the employer of the
deceased veteran, as described in paragraph (1);
``(B) when the burial allowance would revert to the funds
of a public or private organization or would discharge such an
organization's obligation without payment; or
``(C) in any case where payment of expenses of funeral,
transportation, and interment for the veteran is made under any
other Act.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 2302 the following new item:
``2302A. Funeral expenses for homeless veterans not serving during
wartime.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a)(1) shall
apply to deaths occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
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