To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase and to provide for an annual adjustment of the amounts of assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans' funeral and burial expenses.

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).

Increases the authorized allowance for burial and funeral expenses for veterans who die as a result of a service-connected disability.

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. 6054 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6054

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase and to provide for 
   an annual adjustment of the amounts of assistance payable by the 
    Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans' funeral and burial 
                               expenses.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 30, 2010

 Mr. Melancon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase and to provide for 
   an annual adjustment of the amounts of assistance payable by the 
    Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans' funeral and burial 
                               expenses.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE PAYABLE BY THE SECRETARY OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR VETERANS' FUNERAL AND BURIAL 
              EXPENSES.

    (a) Increase in Amount of Assistance for Burial Expenses.--Section 
2302(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``$300'' and inserting ``$1,200''.
    (b) Increase in Amount of Plot Allowance.--Section 2303 of such 
title is amended by striking ``$300'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``$720''.
    (c) Increase in Assistance for Deaths From Service-Connected 
Disabilities.--Section 2307 of such title is amended by striking 
``$2,000'' and inserting ``$3,830''.
    (d) Annual Adjustment of Rates.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 23 of such title is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 2309. Annual adjustment of benefit rates
    ``Whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts payable under 
title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) as a result 
of a determination made under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
415(i)), the Secretary shall, effective on the date of such increase in 
benefit amounts, increase each maximum annual rate of payment under 
sections 2302, 2303, and 2307 of this title, as such rates were in 
effect immediately prior to the date of such increase in benefit 
amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act, by the same 
percentage as the percentage by which such benefit amounts are 
increased.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new item:

``2309. Annual adjustment of benefit rates.''.
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