SCR129

Sponsored by:

Senator JAMES BEACH

District 6 (Camden)

Senator CHRISTOPHER J. CONNORS

District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Whelan and Gordon

SYNOPSIS

Urges Congress to increase veteran plot allowances and make veterans’ spouses and dependent children eligible.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

A Concurrent Resolution urging the United States Congress to pass legislation increasing the federal plot or interment allowance to cover a state’s full cost to bury a veteran and making veterans’ spouses and dependent children eligible for the allowance.

Whereas, This nation owes an incredible debt of gratitude to the members of our armed forces and their families for the tremendous sacrifice they have made in defense of our freedoms across the globe; and

Whereas, It is our national responsibility to ensure that every member of our armed forces, their spouses and dependent children are provided with a final resting place befitting their sacrifice, without burdening their family with financial concerns while they are grieving for a lost loved one; and

Whereas, The State of New Jersey has helped fulfill this responsibility by providing New Jersey’s valiant heroes, their spouses and dependent children a dedicated and well-maintained final resting place at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery; and

Whereas, Federal law (38 U.S.C. 2303) permits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a state only $300 as a plot or interment allowance for veterans buried in a state owned cemetery at no cost to the family and does not permit a payment for the burial of a veteran’s spouse or dependent child; and

Whereas, A veteran’s spouse and dependent children also make a tremendous sacrifice when supporting a member of our armed forces on active duty and therefore it is the federal government’s responsibility to cover the full cost of their interment as well; and

Whereas, The average cost to the State of New Jersey to bury an individual in Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery is $1,100; and

Whereas, The shortfall created by current federal law cost the State of New Jersey $2,500,000 in 2009, in addition to the cost borne by the State to operate the cemetery and perpetually care for those interned there; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass legislation increasing the federal plot or interment allowance to cover a state’s full cost to bury a veteran and making veterans’ spouses and dependent children eligible for the allowance.

2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the President and Vice-President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and every member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution urges the United States Congress to pass legislation increasing the federal plot or interment allowance to cover a state’s full cost to bury a veteran and making veteran spouses and dependent children eligible for the allowance.

Veterans, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in our national cemeteries at no cost to the family, just as they are at New Jersey’s state-owned and operated Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Although 38 U.S.C. 2303 authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a plot or interment allowance to states that provide veterans with burial services in a state-owned cemetery at no cost to the family, the maximum payment is only $300, and neither veterans’ spouses nor dependent children are eligible. However, the average cost to the State of New Jersey for a burial in Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery is $1,100. This shortfall cost the State of New Jersey $2,500,000 in 2009, in addition to the cost borne by the state to operate the cemetery and perpetually care for those intered there.

Therefore, the current plot allowance places a financial burden on states who assist the federal government with our national responsibility to provide veterans and their families a dedicated and well-maintained final resting place. It is imperative that the United States Congress pass legislation increasing the plot or interment allowance so that the states may continue to provide this valuable service to our worthy veterans.