Bill would increase veterans’ burial benefits

Friday, May 23, 2003 | 10:06 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The families of military veterans could receive more money in some cases for funeral expenses under a bill introduced Thursday in the House by Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

Funeral expense benefits would increase from $300 to $670 for families of veterans who are buried in private cemeteries, according to the bill. Veterans who are buried in state cemeteries already receive a free burial plot in many cases, so the money would go to the state as a reimbursement to help the state manage and operate the cemeteries.

The bill would boost benefits from $2,000 to $3,713 for families of veterans who died of service-related disabilities and who are buried in national cemeteries; and from $300 to $1,135 for veterans buried in national cemeteries who did not have service-related disabilities.

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