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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION TO URGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE FREE BURIAL OF SPOUSES AND DEPENDENTS OF VETERANS AT ALL VETERAN CEMETERIES
WHEREAS, in 1862 President Lincoln signed into law language that created the first National Cemeteries for Civil War soldiers who died while in service to the United States; and
WHEREAS, in 1867 Congress provided guidelines for the construction of cemeteries and for the eligibility of those who can be buried in the national cemeteries free of charge; and
WHEREAS, between 1867 and the 1970s the act was expanded several times to include honorably discharged members of the Army, Navy, and Marines who died in a destitute condition, solders who died on foreign soil, U.S. citizens who served in the armed forces of any country at war with Germany or Austria during World War I, members of the reserve components of the armed forces, and any member of the National Guard; and
WHEREAS, in 1978 the Department of Veterans Affairs created the Veteran Cemetery Grants Program that assisted states, territories, and federally recognized tribal governments in providing gravesites for veterans in those areas where national cemeteries cannot fully satisfy their burial needs; and
WHEREAS, a surviving spouse and dependent or minor child of an eligible veteran or armed forces member also may be buried in a national cemetery at no charge; and
WHEREAS, states, territories, and tribal governments may impose additional requirements more stringent than those required by federal law; and
WHEREAS, the Veterans Administration is authorized to reimburse a "plot allowance" to states for expenses incurred in the burial of certain veterans; and
WHEREAS, the Veterans Administration does not provide reimbursement for the burial of a surviving spouse and dependents or minor children of an eligible veteran not buried in national cemeteries; and
WHEREAS, since 1862 more than 3.8 million burials have taken place at the 133 nation...
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