H.R. 497 — Introduced in House

I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 497 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 11, 2019Mr. Hunter (for himself, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Jones, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. Bustos, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, and Mr. DeFazio) 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 increase certain veteran funeral benefits, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Burial Rights for America’s Veterans’ Efforts Act of 2019 or the BRAVE Act of 2019. 2. Increase to certain funeral benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (a) Funeral expenses Section 2302(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking $300 and inserting $780 (as increased from time to time under subsection (c)); and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the percentage by which— (1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the increase is made, exceeds (2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1). . (b) Death from service-Connected disability Section 2307 of such title is amended— (1) by striking In any case and inserting the following: (a) In general In any case ; (2) by striking $2,000 and inserting $2,000 (as increased from time to time under subsection (b)); and (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the maximum amount of burial and funeral expenses payable under subsection (a) equal to the percentage by which— (1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the increase is made, exceeds (2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1). . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall apply to deaths that occur after the day that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.