H.R. 3715 — Introduced in House

I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3715 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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Final Farewell Act of 2015. 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).