Bill Summary
This bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek an agreement with the city of Vallejo, California to transfer the Mare Island Naval Cemetery to the Secretary for maintenance by the National Cemetery Administration. The bill also requires the Secretary to submit a report to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives within 180 days, assessing the feasibility and costs of exercising this authority. This is to ensure that the cemetery is properly maintained as a national shrine.
Possible Impacts
1. The transfer of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs could affect the people who live in the city of Vallejo, California, as it may impact the city's budget and resources.
2. If the cemetery is maintained as a national shrine, it could affect people who have loved ones buried there, as they may have to adhere to certain rules and regulations for visiting the cemetery.
3. The report submitted to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs could affect people by potentially leading to a decision that could have a significant impact on the cemetery and those associated with it, such as veterans and their families.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2983 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2983
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 5, 2019
Mrs. Feinstein introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
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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