A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to address green burial sections in national cemeteries, and for other purposes.
National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022
This act addresses the administration and jurisdiction of national cemeteries.
Specifically, the act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay a plot or interment allowance for a veteran if the veteran was buried before March 15, 2022, in a cemetery on trust land owned by, or held in trust for, a tribal organization, and the organization that maintains or operates the cemetery applies for such allowance. Such allowance is only authorized if a plot or interment allowance was not already paid for the burial of such veteran.
The act also authorizes the VA to designate green burial sections in national cemeteries (i.e., sections of cemeteries in which the remains of individuals have been prepared for interment in a manner not involving chemicals or embalming fluids and have been interred in a natural manner or completely biodegradable burial receptacle).
The act authorizes the Department of the Army to transfer certain lands to the VA to expand the Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
In addition, the act authorizes the Department of the Interior to transfer certain land to the VA for the land to be used as a national cemetery.
Finally, the act prohibits persons who have committed certain crimes from being interred or memorialized in a cemetery in the National Cemetery Administration or in Arlington National Cemetery.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7303-7304; text: CR S7303-7304)
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7303-7304; text: CR S7303-7304)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Held at the desk.
Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10038-10040)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 4949.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H10038-10039)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H10038-10039)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 117-355.
Became Public Law No: 117-355.
Enacted as Public Law 117-355
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