Burial Restrictions Pass House
By Rebecca Adams, CQ Staff Writer
The House easily passed legislation (HR3211) on March 24 that would further restrict burials at Arlington National Cemetery, but sponsors worried that the Senate might loosen the rules with a waiver process.
"I'm going to get over there [to the Senate] and start talking to people," said Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Stump, R-Ariz., in an interview. "I will oppose waivers at every opportunity." Stump's Senate counterpart, Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is "seeking ideas about how we might clarify the process in the future and is contemplating similar legislation," his spokesman said.
The House bill, born of rumors that the Clinton administration was allowing big political donors burial in Arlington -- the General Accounting Office later found the rumors to be untrue -- passed on a 412-0 vote.
Some members in both chambers worry that the rules are too strict as drafted. Burial would be limited to members of the armed forces who die on active duty, most retirees, certain veterans discharged for disability, former prisoners of war and war heroes, close relatives of eligible veterans and U.S. presidents. Senior government officials and members of Congress who were veterans would no longer be allowed burial.
No waivers would be permitted. Arlington superintendent Jack Metzler Jr. has said that some discretion should be given to allow the burial of extraordinary veterans who otherwise would not qualify under the new rules.
In House committee markups, several Democrats questioned the restrictions. "Common sense tells you that somebody is going to die that everyone agrees should be placed in Arlington," said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., in an interview. "In rare and unusual circumstances, there should be a way for that person to get in."
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