To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.

May 22, 2003

Ms. MIKULSKI introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN BURIAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS.

(a) BURIAL AND FUNERAL EXPENSES- (1) Section 2302(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking `$300' and inserting `$1,135 (as increased from time to time under section 2309 of this title)'.

(2) Section 2303(a)(1)(A) of that title is amended by striking `$300' and inserting `$1,135 (as increased from time to time under section 2309 of this title)'.

(3) Section 2307 of that title is amended by striking `$2,000,' and inserting `$3,712 (as increased from time to time under section 2309 of this title),'.

(b) PLOT ALLOWANCE- Section 2303(b) of that title is amended--

(1) by striking `$300' the first place it and inserting `$670 (as increased from time to time under section 2309 of this title)'; and

(2) by striking `$300' the second place it appears and inserting `$670 (as so increased)'.

(c) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT- (1) Chapter 23 of that title is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 2309. Annual adjustment of amounts of burial benefits

`With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the burial and funeral expenses under sections 2302(a), 2303(a), and 2307 of this title, and in the plot allowance under section 2303(b) of this title, 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).'.

(2) The table of sections at the beginning of that chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`2309. Annual adjustment of amounts of burial benefits.'.

(d) EFFECTIVE DATE- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall apply to deaths occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) No adjustments shall be made under section 2309 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (c), for fiscal year 2004.

END