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II
116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 598
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase certain funeral benefits
for veterans, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 28, 2019
Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. RUBIO) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase certain
funeral benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Burial Rights for
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America’s Veterans’ Efforts Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘BRAVE
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Act of 2019’’.
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SEC. 2. INCREASE TO CERTAIN FUNERAL BENEFITS UNDER
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LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF
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VETERANS AFFAIRS.
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(a) FUNERAL EXPENSES.—Section 2302(a) of title
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38, United States Code, is amended—
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(1) in the matter after paragraph (2)(B), by
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striking ‘‘$300’’ and inserting ‘‘$780 (as increased
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from time to time under subsection (c))’’; and
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(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
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section:
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‘‘(c) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary
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shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the near-
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est dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral
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expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the per-
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centage by which—
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‘‘(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items,
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United States city average) for the 12-month period
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ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of
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the fiscal year for which the increase is made, ex-
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ceeds
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‘‘(2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-
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month period preceding the 12-month period de-
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scribed in paragraph (1).’’.
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(b)
DEATH
FROM
SERVICE-CONNECTED
DIS-
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ABILITY.—Section 2307 of such title is amended—
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•S 598 IS
(1) by striking ‘‘In any case’’ and inserting the
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following:
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‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In any case’’;
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(2) in subsection (a), as designated by para-
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graph (1), by striking ‘‘$2,000’’ and inserting
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‘‘$2,000 (as increased from time to time under sub-
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section (b))’’; and
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(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
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section:
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‘‘(b) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary
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shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the near-
11
est dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral
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expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the per-
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centage by which—
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‘‘(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items,
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United States city average) for the 12-month period
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ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of
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the fiscal year for which the increase is made, ex-
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ceeds
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‘‘(2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-
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month period preceding the 12-month period de-
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scribed in paragraph (1).’’.
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(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
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this Act shall apply to deaths that occur after the date
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•S 598 IS
that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
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Act.
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Æ
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