(Added P.L. 93-43, §2(a); amended P.L. 99-576, 8701(55); P.L. 101-237, § 313(b); P.L. 102–83, § 5(a).) $2405. Disposition of inactive cemeteries (a) The Secretary may transfer, with the consent of the agency concerned, any inactive cemetery, burial plot, memorial, or monument within the Secretary's control to the Department of the Interior for maintenance as a national monument or park, or to any other agency of the Government. Any cemetery transferred to the Department of the Interior shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a part of the National Park System, and funds appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior or such system shall be available for the management and operation of such cemetery. (Added P.L. 93-43, §2(a); amended P.L. 99-576, § 701(56); P.L. 101-237, § 313(b); P.L. 102-83, § 5(a).) (b) The Secretary may also transfer and convey all right, title, and interest of the United States in or to any inactive cemetery or burial plot, or portion thereon, to any State, county, municipality, or proper agency thereof, in which or in the vicinity of which such cemetery or burial plot is located, but in the event the grantee shall cease or fail to care for and maintain the cemetery or burial plot or the graves and monuments contained therein in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary, all such right, title, and interest transferred or conveyed by the United States, shall revert to the United States. (Added P.L. 93-43, §2(a); amended P.L. 101-237, §313(b); P.L. 102-83, § 5(a).) (c) If a cemetery not within the National Cemetery System has been or is to be discontinued, the Secretary may provide for the removal of remains from that cemetery to any cemetery within such System. The Secretary may also provide for the removal of the remains of any veteran from a place of temporary interment, or from an abandoned grave or cemetery, to a national cemetery. (Added P.L. 93-43, §2(a); amended P.L. 99-576, §701(56); P.L. 101-237, § 313(b); P.L. 102-83, § 5(a).) $2406. Acquisition of lands As additional lands are needed for national cemeteries, they may be acquired by the Secretary by purchase, gift (including donations from States or political subdivisions thereof), condemnation, transfer from other Federal agencies, or otherwise, as the Secretary determines to be in the best interest of the United States. (Added P.L. 93-43, §2(a); amended P.L. 99-576, §701(57); P.L. 101-237, §313(b); P.L. 102–83, § 5(a).) §2407. Authority to accept and maintain suitable memorials Subject to such restrictions as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may accept gifts, devises, or bequests from legitimate societies and organizations or reputable individuals, made in any manner, which are made for the purpose of beautifying national cemeteries, or are determined to be beneficial to such cemetery. The Secretary may make land available for this purpose, and may furnish such care and maintenance as the Secretary deems necessary. (Added P.L. 93-43, §2(a); amended P.L. 99-576, §701(58); P.L. 101-237, § 313(b); P.L. 102–83, § 5(a).) § 2408. Aid to States for establishment, expansion, and improvement of veterans' cemeteries (a)(1) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary may make grants to any State to assist such State in establishing, expanding, or improving veterans' cemeteries owned by such State. Any such grant may be made only upon submission of an application to the Secretary in such form and manner, and containing such information, as the Secretary may require. (2) There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1980 and for each of the four succeeding fiscal years, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1985 and for each of the nine succeeding fiscal years, for the purpose of making grants under paragraph (1) of this subsection. (Added P.L. 95-476, § 202(b)(1); amended P.L. 98-223, § 202; P.L. 100-687, § 1601; P.L. 101-237, §313(b); P.L. 102-83, § 5(a).) (b) Grants under this section shall be subject to the following conditions: (1) The amount of any grant under this section may not exceed an amount equal to 50 percent of the total of the value of the land to be acquired or dedicated for the cemetery and the cost of the improvements to be made on such land, with the remaining amount to be contributed by the State receiving the grant. (2) If at the time of a grant under this section the State receiving the grant dedicates for the purposes of the cemetery involved land already owned by the State, the value of such land may be considered in determining the amount of the State's contribution under paragraph (1) of this subsection, but the value of such land may not be used for more than an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of such contribution and may not be used as part of such State's contribution for any subsequent grant under this section. (3) If a State that has received a grant under this section to establish, expand, or improve a veterans' cemetery ceases to own such cemetery, ceases to operate such cemetery as a veterans' cemetery, or uses any part of the funds provided through such grant for a purpose other than that for which the grant was made, the United States shall be entitled to recover from such State the total of all grants made under this section to such State in connection with such cemetery. (Added P.L. 95-476, § 202(b)(1); amended P.L. 100-322, § 343; P.L. 102-83, § 5(a).) (c)(1) In addition to the conditions specified in subsection (b) of this section, any grant to a State under this section to assist such State in establishing a veterans' cemetery shall be made on the condition that such cemetery shall conform to such standards and guidelines relating to site selection, planning, and construction as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe. In prescribing regulations for the purposes of the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall take into account the standards and guidelines for site selection, planning, and construction that are applicable to cemeteries in the National Cemetery System, including those provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 2404 of this title. (2) The Secretary may by regulation prescribe such additional terms and conditions for grants under this section as the Secretary considers appropriate. (Added P.L. 95-476, § 202(b)(1); amended P.L. 101-237, §313(b); P.L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1).) (d) Sums appropriated under subsection (a) of this section shall remain available until the end of the second fiscal year following the fiscal year for which they are appropriated. If all funds from a grant under this section have not been utilized by a State for the purpose for which the grant was made within three years after such grant is made, the United States shall be entitled to recover any such unused grant funds from such State. (Added P.L. 95-476, § 202(b)(1); amended P.L. 102-83, § 5(a).) § 2409. Memorial areas in Arlington National Cemetery (a) The Secretary of the Army may set aside, when available, a suitable area or areas in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, to honor the memory of members of the Armed Forces and veterans(1) who are missing in action; (2) whose remains have not been recovered or identified; (3) whose remains were buried at sea, whether by the member's or veteran's own choice or otherwise; (4) whose remains were donated to science; or (5) whose remains were cremated and whose ashes were scattered without interment of any portion of the ashes. (Amended P.L. 102-83, § 5(a).) (b) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army, appropriate memorials or markers may be erected in Arlington National Cemetery to honor the memory of those individuals, or group of individuals, referred to in subsection (a) of this section. (Added P.L. 99-576, § 413(a); amended P.L. 101-237, §313(b)(5); P.L. 102-83, § 5(a).) §2410. Burial of cremated remains in Arlington National Cemetery (a) The Secretary of the Army shall designate an area of appropriate size within Arlington National Cemetery for the unmarked interment, in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, of the ashes of persons eligible for interment in Arlington National Cemetery whose remains were cremated. Such area shall be an area not suitable for the burial of casketed remains. (Amended P.L. 102-83, § 5(a).) (b) The Secretary of each military department shall make available appropriate forms on which those members of the Armed PART III-READJUSTMENT AND RELATED CHAPTER BENEFITS 30. All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program. 31. Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans with Serv ice-Connected Disabilities Sec. 3001 3100 32. Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance 33. [REPEALED.] 34. Veterans' Educational Assistance 3451 35. Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance 39. Automobiles and Adaptive Equipment for Certain Disabled Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces 3901 41. Job Counseling, Training, and Placement Service for Veterans .... 4100 42. Employment and Training of Veterans 4211 43. Veterans' Reemployment Rights 4301 |