Sam Farr: “I appreciate particularly being able to work on section 404 of the bill, which expands the State Cemetery Grants…”

“I appreciate particularly being able to work on section 404 of the bill, which expands the State Cemetery Grants Program. The need for additional cemeteries to serve our Nation's veterans is of critical importance to veterans of the California central coast. Not many people know that only two of California's six national veterans cemeteries are open for burials and cremations. Only two in the most populace state in the union. In my district we have over 40,000 veterans. We have a base closure, we have excess land, and we want to create a State-operated national veterans cemetery on the 156-acre portion of Fort Ord's army facility. When the President signs this bill into law, the State cemetery Grants Program will pay for 100 percent of the cost of the cemetery construction. While the State legislature will have to designate a cemetery at Fort Ord, passage of this bill brings the central coast's veterans and all veterans of California one step closer to realizing their dream for a new cemetery at Fort Ord.”