April 13, 1999

The National Cemeteries Act of 1999

Dear Colleague:

I will soon be introducing The National Cemeteries Act of 1999. This legislation requires the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs to establish three new national cemeteries. Each of the three new cemeteries will be established in an area of the country determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be most in need of cemetery space to serve veterans and their families.

VA statistics show that demand for burial benefits will increase sharply in the near future with interments increasing 42% from 1995 to 2010. Unless new national cemeteries are established soon, VA will not be able to meet the need for burial services for veterans in several metropolitan areas of the country.

I am concerned that too many veterans lack access to the final – and for many, the only – veterans benefit they will receive from our grateful nation. The number of veterans who lack adequate access to burial in a national cemetery will increase during the next decade and the Department of Veterans Affairs has not demonstrated a commitment to establishing obviously needed new national cemeteries.

Accordingly, my bill would require the Secretary to establish a new national cemetery in the three areas of the country that are most in need of burial space. Additionally, this legislation would require the Secretary to provide Congress with a report 4 months after enactment of the National Cemetery Act of 1999. This report will identify the three areas where new national cemeteries are to be established, a schedule for cemetery construction, and an estimate of the costs associated with establishment of these cemeteries.

If you would like to be an original cosponsor of the National Cemeteries Act of 1999, please contact Beth Kilker or Jill Cochran at 225-9756 by the close of business on Monday, April 19, 1999.

Sincerely,

LANE EVANS
Ranking Democratic Member