To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in the Jacksonville, Florida, metropolitan area.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 1516) to provide for the establishment by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of five additional cemeteries in the National Cemetery System.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the other body acted upon H.R. 1516 as amended in such a timely manner. Our action today will clear this measure for the President's signature. I am hopeful that we will have the opportunity to clear most, if not all, of our veterans measures which the House has acted upon before we adjourn next week.

The VA adopted a goal, Mr. Speaker, of providing the option of burial in a national or State veterans cemetery to 90 percent of the veterans within 75 miles of their homes. H.R. 1516, as amended, would help the VA meet that goal in six additional locations. It reflects the findings of a recently-completed VA study which determined the areas in the country most in need of a new national cemetery.

H.R. 1516, as amended, would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a new national cemetery not later than 4 years after the date of enactment in six areas determined to be most in need of such a cemetery. Those locations include the areas of southern Pennsylvania, which will serve 170,000 veterans; Birmingham, Alabama, which will serve 212,000 veterans; Jacksonville, Florida, which will serve 189,000 veterans; Bakersfield, California, which will serve 184,000 veterans; Greenville/Columbia, South Carolina, which will serve 169,000 veterans; and, Sarasota County, Florida, which will serve 406,000 veterans.

The Senate amendments to the House bill add the Sarasota County location to the other five. I want to thank especially the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Harris) for her timely intervention in ensuring that we included that in our legislation and adopted this Senate amendment to our house bill.

All told, Mr. Speaker, more than 1.3 million veterans and their survivors will benefit from these additional cemeteries. The Secretary would be required to use the advanced planning funds to begin the work necessary for establishment of each cemetery.

Additionally, in determining the specific cemetery locations, the bill would require that the Secretary solicit the advice and views of the State and local veterans organizations representatives and other individuals as the Secretary deems appropriate.

I would especially like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach) who is the prime sponsor of the bill and his staff for his work on the bill, as well as the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Harris) and her staff, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown), our very distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) who worked very hard in ensuring that this legislation was properly crafted and met the needs of our veterans. As always, I want to thank my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), and his staff for their good work on this bill as well.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns).

(Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel) for his good work on this bill as well. This is a bipartisan bill, and he certainly did his part in making sure this legislation went forward, so I do want to thank him.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach), the prime sponsor of this bill, who has broken a logjam; and now we will soon have a bill signing in this important legislation, not just for Pennsylvania but for other regions as well; it will go forward to the President and will become law.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), my good friend and colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 10 seconds.

I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) for his contribution, and just remind him that his brother, Dan Mica, used to be on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and never lost an opportunity to remind us how everyone, everybody ultimately moved to Florida from the northeast and everywhere else. So his point about need was very well- taken.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Harris) who, again, worked very hard to ensure that the Sarasota provision was included in our bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw), another friend and great advocate for this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I, too, want to thank my friends and colleagues on the other side, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) and, of course, our distinguished chairman of the subcommittee who spoke earlier, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member, just thank them for their good work on this, and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach), of course the prime sponsor.

I also want to thank Senator Specter who is the chairman of the Senate Veterans Committee with whom we worked on all of these issues, but he got this back very, very quickly in a way that actually improved it. So I want to thank him for that, and Senator Graham.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), and their staffs for their great work in bringing H.R. 1516 to the floor today, and I would also like to thank and acknowledge the kind comments of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel) and his great work and support in bringing this bill to this point today. I thank the gentleman for his work, not only this year, but in previous years in this effort. Also a special thank you to our colleagues on the Pennsylvania congressional delegation for their support as well.

Most importantly, we would like to thank the veterans of southeastern Pennsylvania for their great service and sacrifice to our country over the years. This legislation was introduced last March to establish a new national veterans cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania; and as that bill moved through the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am very pleased to see that some additional sites were added. As was mentioned by the gentleman from Connecticut, Birmingham, Alabama; Jacksonville, Florida; Bakersfield, California; and the Columbia-Greenville, South Carolina, area were added.

It would also require that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs establish new and much-needed cemeteries within 4 years of the date of enactment of this legislation. Aside from establishing these important national cemeteries, another important provision of this measure will provide for local involvement in the selecting of sites for these cemeteries.

Under the legislation, the Secretary for Veterans Affairs is directed to solicit the advice and the views of representatives of local veterans organizations and other individuals as the Secretary considers appropriate.

The need for a new veterans cemetery in our community is well documented and long overdue. The Philadelphia National Cemetery is virtually closed, with the exception of cremated remains, to nearly 400,000 veterans that reside in the five counties and make up the metropolitan Philadelphia area. And while cremation may be an alternative to traditional burial for some, it is not the preference of most. But, unfortunately, it is the only option that Philadelphia-area veterans currently have if they want their remains reposed at a veterans cemetery close to home.

The only other national cemetery in our region is the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, which is a long drive from the Philadelphia area, and can be a very difficult trip for widows, widowers, and other family members who want to visit the graves of their loved ones. I would note that more than 290,000 area veterans live over 65 miles from Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

The Secretary for Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi, has expressed his support for the establishment of a new cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania after analyzing two factors not taken into account in a previous Veterans Affairs Department study.

First, the Beverly National Cemetery in nearby Burlington County, New Jersey, is filling up faster than expected and is only available to New Jersey veterans. Additionally, the Department recently added Monroe County, Pennsylvania, to the greater Philadelphia service area, thereby increasing the number of veterans in need to over 170,000, the statistical benchmark for the establishment of a new cemetery.

Secretary Principi also acknowledged that the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, is at least 80 miles from Philadelphia, which contrasts with the Department's guideline of having a veterans cemetery within 75 miles of a veteran's home.

Consequently, the Secretary expressed his support for a new cemetery in the greater Philadelphia area to honor those who would be laid to rest there. This legislation will provide both for its establishment within a specified time period and allow for the input of local officials and veterans in determining a specific site.

The importance of a veterans cemetery in the southeastern Pennsylvania region has been already recognized. In 1862, the 37th Congress created the National Cemetery of Philadelphia when they initially established what has become a large network of national cemeteries across the United States. Southeastern Pennsylvania veterans of today, as those of the past, should likewise have the opportunity to be buried close to home after providing the same level of heroic service and sacrifice to our Nation.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel) in particular, and also the members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for their work in bringing H.R. 1516 to the floor today, and I would urge all Members of the House to support this much-needed measure.

Mr. Speaker, I enthusiastically rise in support of H.R. 1516, and I am especially pleased we are going to have a national cemetery finally in Jacksonville, Florida. This is in the northeast central Florida corridor where we have a high military presence. We had this area represented by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw) and, of course, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) and recently by Representative John Mica. All four of us serve Jacksonville and north central Florida. All of us are very pleased that this cemetery is coming. I am proud that the Jacksonville cemetery has been the intent of my bill, H.R. 197, and others that I have offered during the last 6 years of Congress.

I thought I would just briefly in the time I have also talk about Jacksonville, as why it is such a strategic place for a national VA cemetery. Even before the United States was even a country, there have been veterans fighting in Jacksonville, so it is altogether fitting to establish a national VA cemetery here. Its very name was initially, and is presently, chosen in honor of war heroes. It has a strategic location. It is prominent on the Atlantic Ocean. It has a port, and it has been in many conflicts since its founding.

It was caught in the crossfires of war with Spain, France, the Revolutionary War, and the Seminole Indian War. It was occupied numerous times during the Civil War. And during World War I, 25 steamers were launched from Jacksonville ports. In late February 1942, German spies made it on the shore of Ponte Vedra, but fortunately they were captured before they could blow up Florida's railroad lines and stop the shipment of war supplies.

Mr. Speaker, during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, this port was active again. Jacksonville moved supplies and personnel more than any other port in the country. Nearby Blount Island has a command on the St. John's River in Jacksonville. It is the site of the Marine Corps' Maritime Prepositioning Ships, MPS. Employment of MPS assets during Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Restore Hope, Continued Hope in Somalia, and the present Operation Restore Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom decisively demonstrate the utility of these expeditionary forces.

We have also the Mayport Naval Air Station with an aircraft carrier station there. We have the naval air station and depot there also.

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of veterans, a lot of military history and presence in Jacksonville; and I just want to remind my colleagues that it is a very, very good place, a resting place for our veterans.

Of course, like others who will speak on behalf of their cemetery, the 2000 U.S. Census shows the revised projections forecasting a population of just under 200,000 by the year 2005. I think that demonstrates what we all know, that a lot of veterans are moving into Florida, a lot of them are moving into northeast Florida to retire. They deserve a resting place with dignity and beauty. I think this cemetery will add a lot to that promise.

Mr. Speaker, I will conclude by also mentioning our Nation's second largest veteran population and number one in age in terms of just who they are. Nearly 325,000 veterans call home somewhere in this area of northeast central Florida. It is interesting, a number of current active duty and armed servicemembers are calling Florida and Jacksonville their home. So they might retire in Texas or California or somewhere in the United States, and they will come back to Florida.

We have a close proximity to our veterans hospital in Alachua County and Duval County, which have sent a lot of Reservists and National Guard to Iraq. So this whole area, Mr. Speaker, is demonstrating the importance of this cemetery. Of course, the next closest proximity is in Marietta, Georgia, which is just north of Atlanta. So a new national VA cemetery in Jacksonville will answer this unmet need not only for northern Floridians but also for southern Georgians.

I appreciate the support of the chairman and subcommittee chairman. We are now providing a dignified, hallowed ground for our veterans. They deserve it.

Mr. Speaker, I first would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the ranking member from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for their great work and their staffs' great work in bringing H.R. 1516 to the floor today. Special thanks to the lead Democrat sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel), for his persistence, not only in this session but in prior sessions to bring this to a conclusion today legislatively.

I also would like to thank the Senator from Pennsylvania, Senator Specter, and his staff and ranking member, Senator Graham, for their work also over on the Senate in allowing us to move this forward.

Most importantly, I would like to thank the veterans of southeastern Pennsylvania for their great service and sacrifice to our country over the years.

This legislation was introduced last March to establish a new national veterans cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania; and as that bill moved through the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am very pleased to see that the additional sites were added for other areas of the country that likewise have the need to have veterans cemeteries for their veterans.

The need for a cemetery in our area is well-documented and long overdue. The Philadelphia national cemetery is virtually closed with the exception of cremated remains to nearly 400,000 veterans that reside in the five counties and make up the metropolitan Philadelphia area.

While cremation may be alternative to some, it is certainly not the preference to most; but unfortunately it is the only option for Philadelphia-area veterans currently if they want to have their remains reposed at a veterans cemetery close to home.

The only other national cemetery in our region is the Indiantown Gap Cemetery, which is a long drive from Philadelphia and can be very difficult for widows, widowers, and other family members who want to visit the graves of their loved ones. I would note that more than 290,000 area veterans live more than 65 miles from Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs has expressed his support for the establishment of a new cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania after analyzing two factors not taken into account in the previous veterans affairs department study. First, the Beverly National Cemetery in nearby Burlington County, New Jersey, is filling up faster than expected and is only available to New Jersey veterans. Additionally, the department recently added Monroe County, Pennsylvania, to the greater Philadelphia service area, thereby increasing the number of the veterans in need to over 175,000, the statistical benchmark for the establishment of a new cemetery.

The Secretary also acknowledged that the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, is at least 80 miles from Philadelphia, which contrasts with the Department's guidelines of having a veterans cemetery within 75 miles of a veteran's home.

Consequently, the Secretary has expressed his support for a new cemetery in our area to honor those who would be laid to rest there. This legislation would provide for its establishment within a 4-year time period and allow for the input of local officials and veterans in determining its specific site.

The importance of a veterans cemetery from our part of Pennsylvania has already been recognized for a long period of time. In 1862, the 37th Congress created the National Cemetery of Philadelphia when they initially established what has become a large network of national cemeteries across the United States. Southeastern Pennsylvania veterans and the veterans living in the other areas included in the bill today should, like those in the past, have the opportunity to be buried close to home after providing the same level of heroic service and sacrifice to our Nation.

I urge the support of the Members when we vote on this legislation and,

again, thank the chairman of the committee for his support.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1516) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in southeastern Pennsylvania, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in a sense, the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003 is part of the legacy of the late chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Bob Stump. It was Bob who composed many of the cemetery provisions ultimately signed into law as part of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act. Bob also took a particular interest in the need for improvements to our national cemeteries and to obtain an updated list of areas in the country where there was a significant unmet demand for a national cemetery. His vision of VA cemeteries as national shrines should inspire all of us and those responsible for maintaining VA cemeteries for years to come.

According to existing VA planning guidelines, VA should establish cemeteries in locations that would provide service to 90 percent of veterans within 75 miles of their homes. H.R. 1516, as amended, reflects the findings of a recently completed VA study which found the areas of the country most in need of a new national cemetery.

The study, performed by Logistic Management Institute, reviewed current and future burial needs of veterans and identified areas of the country where new national cemeteries might be constructed. They identified 31 areas with the greatest need and ranked them by the size of the population to be served. VA is expanding six cemeteries on the list currently serving veterans through land acquisitions, and State cemeteries are being planned in other areas to meet veterans' burial needs.

H.R. 1516, as amended, would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a new national cemetery, not later than 4 years after the date of enactment, in those five areas, which would be southeastern Pennsylvania; Birmingham, Alabama; Jacksonville, Florida; Bakersfield, California; and Greenville-Columbia, South Carolina. More than 900,000 veterans and their survivors will benefit from these additional national cemeteries.

H.R. 1516, as amended, would also direct the Secretary to submit a report to Congress not later than 120 days after enactment on the establishment of the national cemeteries required by this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach) and his staff for their work on this bill and for working with the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman Brown) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), to provide for the burial needs of veterans.

I would also like to recognize committee staff, Paige McManus, Darryl Kehrer, Kingston Smith, Patrick Ryan, Mary Ellen McCarthy, Geoffrey Collver, and Jim Holley for their work on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach), and thank him, speaking as a veteran, for all of his hard work to bring this legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to urge my colleagues to support the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003.

For a veteran, a funeral service is the last official ceremony that that veteran will participate in; and for the family, that cemetery becomes a place of remembrance and love. It is so important to these families that they be able to visit their departed veteran in this environment.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.