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Continuing Resolution signed into Law - Government Funded to November 21, 2019
As the new fiscal year began on October 1, 2019, TREA noted that the House has passed 10 of 12 appropriations bills including Defense and VA- Mil Con at record levels. Unfortunately, the Senate passed none. In order to prevent a government shutdown Congress passed and the President signed a Continuing Resolution funding the entire government through November 21, 2019. TREA is most concerned with funding for DOD and VA-Military Construction and has urged the Senate to act swiftly and pass both of these bills when they return from recess on October 15.
New Eligibility Rules for Burial in Arlington National Cemetery
The new restrictions are likely to cause controversy within the military community, since veterans groups have long opposed restricting eligibility at Arlington.
Department of Army officials are moving to limit the number of individuals eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, restricting below-ground sites to combat heroes, battle casualties and a small pool of notable dignitaries. Under the proposal, which still needs to be finalized through a public rulemaking process, some other veterans will still be eligible for storage of cremated remains at the famed site in above-ground columbarium, which will allow planners additional flexibility and space in coming decades.
The move by the Army, which administers the cemetery, is part of an ongoing effort to extend how long the cemetery can be used as a final resting place for America's service members. Army officials have for the last two years considered a series of site expansions and facility changes to deal with dwindling space at the site. The 154-year-old cemetery has become one of the most hallowed military sites in America. More than 3 million visitors travel to the site annually.
According to the Army, only about 100,000 burial sites are left at the cemetery. Expansion plans are expected to keep burials on pace into the 2040s, but not much beyond that. Under the latest proposal, 1,000 gravesites would be set aside for current and future Medal of Honor recipients, to ensure space is reserved for those recipients of the highest military honor.
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In addition to them, below-ground burials would be restricted to these other military groups:
- Troops killed in action, to include repatriated remains
- Purple Heart recipients
- Award recipients of the Silver Star or a higher honor
- Combat-related service deaths "while conducting uniquely military activities"
- Former prisoners of war
- Veterans with combat service who "made significant contributions to the nation's security" in other government posts
- Former presidents and vice presidents of the United States
Spouses of eligible individuals would also be allowed burial at their loved-ones plots.
Above-ground inurments of ashes will be open to any veterans from World War II, military retirees, veterans who served in combat and spent at least two years in the ranks, and veterans without any combat service who "made significant contributions to the nation's security" in government posts.
Currently, any military retiree is eligible for below-ground burial at the site, and any veteran who left the service under honorable conditions is eligible for inurment of ashes. The former group would only be eligible for inurment now, while many of the later would not be eligible for any admission to Arlington. Army officials said the new changes will not affect any burials already scheduled, or any planned between now and the completion of the rulemaking process, expected to take at least nine months.
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