Final Farewell Act of 2016
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to permit the interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery during weekends, other than federal holiday weekends, upon the request of the veteran's next-of-kin.
Any grant to assist a state in establishing a veterans' cemetery shall require that the cemetery permits the interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran during weekends, other than federal holiday weekends, upon the request of the veteran's next-of-kin.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3715 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3715
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to permit interments, funerals, memorial services, and
ceremonies of deceased veterans at national cemeteries and State
cemeteries receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs
during certain weekends if requested for religious reasons.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 8, 2015
Ms. Brown of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to permit interments, funerals, memorial services, and
ceremonies of deceased veterans at national cemeteries and State
cemeteries receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs
during certain weekends if requested for religious reasons.
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 ``Final Farewell Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF INTERMENTS, FUNERALS, MEMORIAL SERVICES, AND
CEREMONIES AT NATIONAL CEMETERIES AND STATE CEMETERIES
RECEIVING GRANTS DURING WEEKENDS WHEN REQUESTED FOR
RELIGIOUS OR CULTURAL REASONS.
(a) National Cemeteries.--Section 2404 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(i) The Secretary shall permit the interment or funeral, memorial
service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery
during weekends, other than Federal holiday weekends, upon a request of
the next-of-kin of the veteran made for religious or cultural reasons,
as determined by the Secretary.''.
(b) State Cemeteries.--Section 2408(c) of such title is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new
paragraph (2):
``(2) In addition to the conditions specified in subsection (b) and
paragraph (1), any grant to a State under this section to assist such
State in establishing a veterans' cemetery shall be made on the
condition that such cemetery shall permit the interment or funeral,
memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at the cemetery
during weekends, other than Federal holiday weekends, upon a request of
the next-of-kin of the veteran made for religious or cultural reasons,
as determined by the Secretary.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(d) Notice Requirement.--Upon receipt of a request for an
application for burial or interment in a national cemetery, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide notice to the individual
submitting the request of the opportunity to request the interment or
funeral, memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a
national cemetery during weekends, other than Federal holiday weekends,
for religious or cultural reasons, as authorized by subsection (i) of
section 2404 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a).
<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.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote .
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2913-2914)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3715.
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Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2913-2914)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2913-2914)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.