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Committee Backs New Battle of the
Bulge Memorial, Revised Arlington Burial Rules & VA Procurement Reform
(Washington, DC) - The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs has OK'ed three
new bills that would authorize the placement of a new memorial honoring
veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, revise the rules governing burial
eligibility at Arlington National Cemetery, and reform the way the
Department of Veterans Affairs procures its health care supplies and
equipment.
H.R. 5055,
sponsored by Committee Chairman Chris Smith
(NJ-4), will authorize the placement a new memorial in Arlington National
Cemetery honoring the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, the largest land
battle of World War II, with more than 80,000 American casualties. The new
memorial, to be paid for with private funds, will replace an existing
memorial marker that has deteriorated over recent years.
"The importance of the Allied victory in Battle of the Bulge cannot be
overstated," said Smith. "The individual acts of courage, sacrifice and
bravery from this battle resulted in the award of 17 Medals of Honor and 86
Distinguished Service Crosses. The placement of a new memorial in Arlington
National Cemetery will provide a small token of our nation's gratitude to
all of the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge" he said.
The Committee also approved H.R. 4940,
the Arlington National Cemetery Burial
Eligibility Act, legislation sponsored by Congressman Bob Stump (AZ-3) and
Chairman Smith, that would revise and codify existing Army regulations
determining burial eligibility at Arlington National Cemetery. H.R. 4940
will expand eligibility for burial to Guard and reserve members with 20
years of service, but who died before reaching retirement age, and to Guard
and reserve members who die while on training duty in the performance of
duty. These two provisions had previously been approved in the House as
separate legislation (H .R. 3423) sponsored by Chairman Smith, but the
Senate has not taken any further action.
"When a member of our armed forces dies while performing his or her duty,
they have earned the right to be buried alongside our nation's heroes in the
hallowed grounds of Arlington," said Smith. "Current rules arbitrarily
separating those who die while on active duty statuses from those on various
reserve duty statuses are distinctions without a difference," he said.
H.R. 4940
would also eliminate the eligibility for
high-ranking Government officials who are veterans but who would otherwise
not meet the military service criteria. A limited waiver provision was
included that would allow the granting of a waiver for burial at Arlington
for persons who have made 'extraordinary contributions to the Armed Forces.'
"Arlington National Cemetery must be restored to its original purpose - to
honor our greatest military heroes," said Congressman Bob Stump, who
sponsored similar legislation (H.R . 70) approved by the House in the last
Congress, but which died in the Senate. "I look forward to working with the
Senate to make sure my legislation is signed into law this year," he said.
"These bills will further ensure that our nation's fallen heroes are
properly honored and remembered in Arlington National Cemetery," said
Benefits Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (ID-2). "From the winter forests
of Bastogne at the Battle of the Bulge to the deserts of Afghanistan today,
America's servicemen and women have protected our freedom. Now we must
protect their memory of service so that future generations never forget that
the cost of freedom was paid by our veterans," he said.
Finally, the Committee voted in favor of H.R. 3645, the Veterans Health Care
and Procurement Improvement Act of 2002, legislation sponsored by
Congressman Lane Evans (IL-17), that would reform the procurement procedures
of the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. H.R. 3645 would
require that VA leverage their purchasing power through mandated use of the
Federal Supply Schedule for medical and surgical purchases in order to gain
greater efficiency in purchasing and to increase accountability.
The Committee adopted a substitute
amendment that also included additional provisions that would:
· Address specialized medical-item needs of veterans with severe
disabilities, with improved accountability and strengthened reporting for
exceptions made to the reformed policies
· Streamline the procedures that govern the VA's use of enhanced-use lease
authority; provide the VA additional flexibility to enhance use of VA
properties in complementary activities
· Provide hospital and nursing home care and medical services to certain
Filipino World War II veterans of the Philippines Commonwealth Army and
former Philippines "New Scouts" who now permanently reside in the United
States
· Expand eligibility for outpatient dental care for all former prisoners of
war
· Strengthen auditing and reporting requirements for VA research and
education corporations established at VA medical centers
· Authorize the Department of Defense to participate in VA's Revolving
Supply Fund for the purchase of health-care items
· Name the VA outpatient clinic in New London, Connecticut, for the late
John J. McGuirk
All three bills (H.R. 5055, H.R. 4940, H.R. 3645) will now be scheduled for
final House approval before they are sent to the Senate for their
consideration.
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