Bill Summary
This bill, if passed, would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek an agreement with the city of Vallejo, California for the transfer of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery to the Secretary. The Secretary would then be responsible for maintaining the cemetery as a national shrine. The bill also requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress within 180 days, detailing the feasibility and costs associated with this transfer.
Possible Impacts
1. If this legislation is passed, it could affect the people of Vallejo, California, as the Mare Island Naval Cemetery would be transferred to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for maintenance by the National Cemetery Administration. The citizens of Vallejo may have strong feelings about the transfer of this cemetery and its maintenance, as it holds historical and emotional significance for the community.
2. The legislation could also affect veterans and their families, as the National Cemetery Administration would be responsible for maintaining the cemetery as a national shrine. This could provide a final resting place for veterans and a place for families to honor their loved ones who have served.
3. The report required by subsection (c)(1) could also affect taxpayers, as it would include an estimate of the costs that the Department of Veterans Affairs would incur by exercising the authority granted by subsection (a). This could potentially impact the budget and allocation of funds for other government programs.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6039 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6039
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an
agreement with the city of Vallejo, California, for the transfer of
Mare Island Naval Cemetery in Vallejo, California, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 28, 2020
Mr. Thompson of California introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an
agreement with the city of Vallejo, California, for the transfer of
Mare Island Naval Cemetery in Vallejo, California, 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. TRANSFER OF MARE ISLAND NAVAL CEMETERY TO SECRETARY OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR MAINTENANCE BY NATIONAL CEMETERY
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Agreement.--Beginning on the date that is 180 days after the
date on which the Secretary submits the report required by subsection
(c)(1), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an
agreement with the city of Vallejo, California, under which the city of
Vallejo shall transfer to the Secretary all right, title, and interest
in the Mare Island Naval Cemetery in Vallejo, California, at no cost to
the Secretary. The Secretary shall seek to enter into such agreement
before the date that is one year after the date on which such report is
submitted.
(b) Maintenance by National Cemetery Administration.--If the Mare
Island Naval Cemetery is transferred to the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs pursuant to subsection (a), the National Cemetery
Administration shall maintain the cemetery as a national shrine.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report
on the feasibility and advisability of exercising the authority
granted by subsection (a).
(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the feasibility and
advisability of exercising the authority granted by
subsection (a).
(B) An estimate of the costs, including both direct
and indirect costs, that the Department of Veterans
Affairs would incur by exercising such authority.
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