Andy Harris: “Mr. Speaker, I rise and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1516, the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003, as amended…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1516, the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003, as amended by the Senate. On July 21, this House passed the original 1516 by unanimous consent. The bill directs the Secretary or Veterans Affairs to establish five additional cemeteries within the national cemetery system. Although the original version that we passed 3 months ago addresses the needs of hundreds of thousands of veterans across our Nation, that original version did not acknowledge the men and women of southwest Florida who comprise one of the Nation's largest population of veterans. Currently, Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida, constitutes the closest national cemetery that serves southwest Florida's veterans. For many families, visiting this location involves a strenuous drive. Moreover, Bay Pines, which encompasses a mere 27.3 acres, accepts only cremated remains. I strongly believe that we should not impose this hardship of travel upon our veterans' families. Moreover, forcing a potentially objectionable method of entombment upon veterans, as a condition of receiving the final tribute they earned, is patently wrong.”