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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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Please visit http://veterans.house.gov, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs web site, named 'One of the Best Web Sites in Congress' by the Congressional Management Foundation, May 3, 1999.
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