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S 3202 ESRFHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2d SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

S. 3202CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

AN ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that deceased veterans with no known next of kin can receive a dignified burial, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 2. Scoring of budgetary effects.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--CEMETERY MATTERS

Sec. 101. Furnishing caskets and urns for deceased veterans with no known next of kin.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 102. Veterans freedom of conscience protection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 103. Improved communication between Department of Veterans Affairs and medical examiners and funeral directors.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 104. Identification and burial of unclaimed or abandoned human remains.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 105. Exclusion of persons convicted of committing certain sex offenses from interment or memorialization in national cemeteries, Arlington National Cemetery, and certain State veterans’ cemeteries and from receiving certain funeral honors.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 106. Restoration, operation, and maintenance of Clark Veterans Cemetery by American Battle Monuments Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 107. Report on compliance of Department of Veterans Affairs with industry standards for caskets and urns.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--HEALTH CARE

Sec. 201. Establishment of open burn pit registry.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 202. Transportation of beneficiaries to and from facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 203. Extension of reduced pension for certain veterans covered by medicaid plans for services furnished by nursing facilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 204. Extension of report requirement for Special Committee on Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 301. Off-base transition training for veterans and their spouses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 302. Requirement that judges on United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims reside within 50 miles of District of Columbia.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 303. Designation of Trinka Davis Veterans Village.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 304. Designation of William ‘Bill’ Kling Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 305. Designation of Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 306. Designation of David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’ for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--CEMETERY MATTERSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 101. FURNISHING CASKETS AND URNS FOR DECEASED VETERANS WITH NO KNOWN NEXT OF KIN.

(a) In General- Section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection (f):CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) The Secretary may furnish a casket or urn, of such quality as the Secretary considers appropriate for a dignified burial, for burial in a national cemetery of a deceased veteran in any case in which the Secretary--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) is unable to identify the veteran’s next of kin, if any; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) determines that sufficient resources for the furnishing of a casket or urn for the burial of the veteran in a national cemetery are not otherwise available.’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsection (h), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) A casket or urn may not be furnished under subsection (f) for burial of a person described in section 2411(b) of this title.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Effective Date- Subsections (f) and (h)(4) of section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. VETERANS FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE PROTECTION.

(a) In General- Section 2404 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(h)(1) With respect to the interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery, the Secretary shall ensure that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the expressed wishes of the next of kin or other agent of the deceased veteran are respected and given appropriate deference when evaluating whether the proposed interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony affects the safety and security of the national cemetery and visitors to the cemetery;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) to the extent possible, all appropriate public areas of the cemetery, including committal shelters, chapels, and benches, may be used by the family of the deceased veteran for contemplation, prayer, mourning, or reflection; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) during such interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony, the family of the deceased veteran may display any religious or other symbols chosen by the family.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) Subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary under paragraph (4), including such regulations ensuring the security of a national cemetery, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide to any military or volunteer veterans honor guard, including such guards belonging to a veterans service organization or other nongovernmental group that provides services to veterans, access to public areas of a national cemetery if such access is requested by the next of kin or other agent of a deceased veteran whose interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony is being held in such cemetery.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) With respect to the interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery, the Secretary shall notify the next of kin or other agent of the deceased veteran of funeral honors available to the deceased veteran, including such honors provided by any military or volunteer veterans honor guard described in paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Interim Implementation- The Secretary may carry out paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 2404(h) of such title, as added by subsection (a), before the Secretary prescribes regulations pursuant to paragraph (4) of such section, as so added.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Report- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of section 2404(h) of such title, as added by subsection (a). Such report shall include a certification of whether the Secretary is in compliance with all of the provisions of such section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 103. IMPROVED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS.

(a) In General- Chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 2414. Communication between Department of Veterans Affairs and medical examiners and funeral directors

‘(a) Required Information- With respect to each deceased veteran described in subsection (b) who is transported to a national cemetery for burial, the Secretary shall ensure that the local medical examiner, funeral director, county service group, or other entity responsible for the body of the deceased veteran before such transportation submits to the Secretary the following information:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) Whether the deceased veteran was cremated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The steps taken to ensure that the deceased veteran has no next of kin.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Deceased Veteran Described- A deceased veteran described in this subsection is a deceased veteran--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) with respect to whom the Secretary determines that there is no next of kin or other person claiming the body of the deceased veteran; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) who does not have sufficient resources for the furnishing of a casket or urn for the burial of the deceased veteran in a national cemetery, as determined by the Secretary.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2413 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘2414. Communication between Department of Veterans Affairs and medical examiners and funeral directors.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- Section 2414 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 104. IDENTIFICATION AND BURIAL OF UNCLAIMED OR ABANDONED HUMAN REMAINS.

(a) Identification of Unclaimed or Abandoned Human Remains- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall cooperate with veterans service organizations to assist entities in possession of unclaimed or abandoned human remains in determining if any such remains are the remains of veterans or other individuals eligible for burial in a national cemetery under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Burial of Unclaimed or Abandoned Human Remains-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) FUNERAL EXPENSES- Section 2302(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘who was a veteran of any war or was discharged or released from the active military, naval, or air service for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, whose body is held by a State (or a political subdivision of a State), and’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TRANSPORTATION COSTS- Section 2308 of such title is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘Where a veteran’ and all that follows through ‘compensation, the’ and inserting ‘(a) In General- The’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (a), as designated by subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘described in subsection (b)’ after ‘of the deceased veteran’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Deceased Veteran Described- A deceased veteran described in this subsection is any of the following veterans:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) A veteran who dies as the result of a service-connected disability.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) A veteran who dies while in receipt of disability compensation (or who but for the receipt of retirement pay or pension under this title, would have been entitled to compensation).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) A veteran whom the Secretary determines is eligible for funeral expenses under section 2302 of this title by virtue of the Secretary determining that the veteran has no next of kin or other person claiming the body of such veteran pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(A) of such section.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to burials and funerals occurring on or after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 105. EXCLUSION OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF COMMITTING CERTAIN SEX OFFENSES FROM INTERMENT OR MEMORIALIZATION IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES, ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, AND CERTAIN STATE VETERANS’ CEMETERIES AND FROM RECEIVING CERTAIN FUNERAL HONORS.

(a) Prohibition Against- Section 2411(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) A person--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) who has been convicted of a Federal or State crime causing the person to be a tier III sex offender for purposes of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) who, for such crime, is sentenced to a minimum of life imprisonment; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) whose conviction is final (other than a person whose sentence was commuted by the President or Governor of a State, as the case may be).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments- Section 2411(a)(2) of such title is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘or (b)(2)’ each place it appears and inserting ‘, (b)(2), or (b)(4)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘capital’ each place it appears.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to interments and memorializations that occur on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 106. RESTORATION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF CLARK VETERANS CEMETERY BY AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION.

(a) In General- After an agreement is made between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the United States Government, Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Republic of the Philippines shall be treated, for purposes of section 2104 of title 36, United States Code, as a cemetery for which it was decided under such section that the cemetery will become a permanent cemetery and the American Battle Monuments Commission shall restore, operate, and maintain Clark Veterans Cemetery (to the degree the Commission considers appropriate) under such section in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Limitation on Future Burials- Burials at the cemetery described in subsection (a) after the date of the agreement described in such subsection shall be limited to eligible veterans, as determined by the Commission, whose burial does not incur any cost to the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) $5,000,000 for site preparation, design, planning, construction, and associated administrative costs for the restoration of the cemetery described in subsection (a); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) amounts necessary to operate and maintain the cemetery described in subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 107. REPORT ON COMPLIANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR CASKETS AND URNS.

(a) In General- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the compliance of the Department of Veterans Affairs with industry standards for caskets and urns.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Elements- The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) A description of industry standards for caskets and urns.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) An assessment of compliance with such standards at national cemeteries administered by the Department with respect to caskets and urns used for the interment of those eligible for burial at such cemeteries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--HEALTH CARECommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY.

(a) Establishment of Registry-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) establish and maintain an open burn pit registry for eligible individuals who may have been exposed to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) include any information in such registry that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines necessary to ascertain and monitor the health effects of the exposure of members of the Armed Forces to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) develop a public information campaign to inform eligible individuals about the open burn pit registry, including how to register and the benefits of registering; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) periodically notify eligible individuals of significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COORDINATION- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate with the Secretary of Defense in carrying out paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report to Congress-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REPORTS BY INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into an agreement with an independent scientific organization to prepare reports as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Not later than two years after the date on which the registry under subsection (a) is established, an initial report containing the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) An assessment of the effectiveness of actions taken by the Secretaries to collect and maintain information on the health effects of exposure to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) Recommendations to improve the collection and maintenance of such information.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) Using established and previously published epidemiological studies, recommendations regarding the most effective and prudent means of addressing the medical needs of eligible individuals with respect to conditions that are likely to result from exposure to open burn pits.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Not later than five years after completing the initial report described in subparagraph (A), a follow-up report containing the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) An update to the initial report described in subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) An assessment of whether and to what degree the content of the registry established under subsection (a) is current and scientifically up-to-date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) INITIAL REPORT- Not later than two years after the date on which the registry under subsection (a) is established, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress the initial report prepared under paragraph (1)(A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) FOLLOW-UP REPORT- Not later than five years after submitting the report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress the follow-up report prepared under paragraph (1)(B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL- The term ‘eligible individual’ means any individual who, on or after September 11, 2001--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) was deployed in support of a contingency operation while serving in the Armed Forces; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) during such deployment, was based or stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) OPEN BURN PIT- The term ‘open burn pit’ means an area of land located in Afghanistan or Iraq that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) is designated by the Secretary of Defense to be used for disposing solid waste by burning in the outdoor air; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) does not contain a commercially manufactured incinerator or other equipment specifically designed and manufactured for the burning of solid waste.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. TRANSPORTATION OF BENEFICIARIES TO AND FROM FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) In General- Chapter 1 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 111 the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 111A. Transportation of individuals to and from Department facilities

‘(a) Transportation by Secretary- (1) The Secretary may transport any person to or from a Department facility or other place in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling required by the Secretary pursuant to chapter 34 or 35 of this title, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The authority granted by paragraph (1) shall expire on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this section.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendment- Subsection (h) of section 111 of such title is--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) transferred to section 111A of such title, as added by subsection (a);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) redesignated as subsection (b);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) inserted after subsection (a) of such section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) amended by inserting ‘Transportation by Third-parties- ’ before ‘The Secretary’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 111 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘111A. Transportation of individuals to and from Department facilities.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF REDUCED PENSION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS FOR SERVICES FURNISHED BY NURSING FACILITIES.

Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘September 30, 2016’ and inserting ‘November 30, 2016’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF REPORT REQUIREMENT FOR SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON POST-TRAUMATIC-STRESS DISORDER.

Section 110(e)(2) of the Veterans’ Health Care Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-528; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by striking ‘through 2012’ and inserting ‘through 2016’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--OTHER MATTERSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 301. OFF-BASE TRANSITION TRAINING FOR VETERANS AND THEIR SPOUSES.

(a) Provision of Off-base Transition Training- During the two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall provide the Transition Assistance Program under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, to eligible individuals at locations other than military installations to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing such program to eligible individuals at locations other than military installations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Eligible Individuals- For purposes of this section, an eligible individual is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Locations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) NUMBER OF STATES- The Secretary shall carry out the training under subsection (a) in not less than three and not more than five States selected by the Secretary for purposes of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) SELECTION OF STATES WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT- Of the States selected by the Secretary under paragraph (1), at least two shall be States with high rates of unemployment among veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) NUMBER OF LOCATIONS IN EACH STATE- The Secretary shall provide training under subsection (a) to eligible individuals at a sufficient number of locations within each State selected under this subsection to meet the needs of eligible individuals in such State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) SELECTION OF LOCATIONS- The Secretary shall select locations for the provision of training under subsection (a) to facilitate access by participants and may not select any location on a military installation other than a National Guard or reserve facility that is not located on an active duty military installation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Inclusion of Information About Veterans Benefits- The Secretary shall ensure that the training provided under subsection (a) generally follows the content of the Transition Assistance Program under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Annual Report- Not later than March 1 of any year during which the Secretary provides training under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the provision of such training.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Comptroller General Report- Not later than 180 days after the termination of the one-year period described in subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the training provided under such subsection. The report shall include the evaluation of the Comptroller General regarding the feasibility and advisability of carrying out off-base transition training at locations nationwide.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 302. REQUIREMENT THAT JUDGES ON UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS RESIDE WITHIN 50 MILES OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

(a) Residency Requirement-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 7255 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 7255. Offices, duty stations, and residences

‘(a) Principal Office- The principal office of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims shall be in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, but the Court may sit at any place within the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Official Duty Stations- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the official duty station of each judge while in active service shall be the principal office of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The place where a recall-eligible retired judge maintains the actual abode in which such judge customarily lives shall be considered the recall-eligible retired judge’s official duty station.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Residences- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), after appointment and while in active service, each judge of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims shall reside within 50 miles of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to recall-eligible retired judges of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 72 is amended by striking the item relating to section 7255 and inserting the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘7255. Offices, duty stations, and residences.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Removal- Section 7253(f)(1) is amended by striking ‘or engaging in the practice of law’ and inserting ‘engaging in the practice of law, or violating section 7255(c) of this title’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Subsection (c) of section 7255, as added by subsection (a), and the amendment made by subsection (b) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) APPLICABILITY- The amendment made by subsection (b) shall apply with respect to judges confirmed on or after January 1, 2012.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 303. DESIGNATION OF TRINKA DAVIS VETERANS VILLAGE.

(a) Designation- The facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 180 Martin Drive in Carrollton, Georgia, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ‘Trinka Davis Veterans Village’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) References- Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘Trinka Davis Veterans Village’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 304. DESIGNATION OF WILLIAM ‘BILL’ KLING DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINIC.

(a) Designation- The facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 9800 West Commercial Boulevard in Sunrise, Florida, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ‘William ‘Bill’ Kling Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) References- Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘William ‘Bill’ Kling Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 305. DESIGNATION OF MANN-GRANDSTAFF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER.

(a) Designation- The Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Spokane, Washington, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ‘Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) References- Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 306. DESIGNATION OF DAVID F. WINDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC.

(a) Designation- The Department of Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic located in Mansfield, Ohio, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ‘David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) References- Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Department of Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the Senate December 19, 2012.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Secretary.

112th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3202

AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that deceased veterans with no known next of kin can receive a dignified burial, and for other purposes NANCY ERICKSON, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink