I asked him to form an Advisory Commission which would evaluate these programs to assure that our tax dollars are being used most wisely, and that the Government is fully meeting its responsibilities. That Commission, composed of 11 distinguished Americans, has now held hearings in cities all across the country. We are looking forward to the recommendations of the Commission. Every veteran who wants it-those who risked their lives at Belleau Wood, Iwo Jima and the DMZ-should have the right to burial in a National Cemetery situated reasonably close to his home. I have asked the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to make certain that the recommendations of the Commission include proposals to assure this right in a meaningful sense. CONCLUSION More than 20 years ago on the floor of the House of Representatives, I said that it is this nation's responsibility to see to it that "the veteran may return to his community as a free, upstanding and self-reliant citizen." The times then, as complex as they seemed, were simple in perspective. As President, I have seen-and acted on-the responsibilities unique to our own day. The events of the past week have underscored their gravity. Today, as in times past, it is on America's fighting men that this nation must depend. Their service honors us all. We look to that good day when they will return "as free, upstanding and selfreliant citizens." It is in this spirit of concern for America's veterans that I submit this message to the Congress today. THE WHITE HOUSE, January 30, 1968. LYNDON B. JOHNSON EXCERPT FROM CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, MARCH 14, 1968, DEBATE ON H. RES. 1031 AMENDING HOUSE RESOLUTION 101, 90TH CONGRESS, TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN MATTERS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION Mr. MADDEN. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1031 and ask for its immediate consideration. The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: HOUSE RESOLUTION 1031 Resolved, That H. Res. 101, Ninetieth Congress, adopted February 21, 1967, is amended by designating the last two paragraphs of such resolution as "SEC. 4." and by inserting immediately preceding such section 4 the following new section: "SEC. 3. The committee is authorized to conduct a full and complete investigation and study of the establishment, operation, and maintenance of cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in the United States or abroad, except cemeteries administered by the Secretary of the Interior. For the purposes of this section the committee, or any subcommittee therefore, is authorized to sit and act during the present Congress at such times and places within the United States, including any Commonwealth or possession thereof, or elsewhere, as it deems necessary. The committee shall not undertake any investigation of any subject which is being investigated by any other committee of the House." The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 1 hour. Mr. MADDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Smith), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this resolution amends House Resolution 101 of the 90th Congress, which authorizes the Committee on Veterans' Affairs to investigate certain matters within its jurisdiction, and to sit and act within the United States, including any Commonwealth or possession thereof. In addition, the resolution authorizes the Committee on Veterans' Affairs to send not more than five members and two staff assistants to the Philippines and South Vietnam to investigate and study various programs concerning American veterans and servicemen in those areas. On October 20, 1967, the House adopted House Resolution 241, which transferred jurisdiction from the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs over cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in the United States or abroad, except cemeteries administered by the Secretary of the Interior. Consequently, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs now has jurisdiction over cemeteries located in a number of foreign countries such as France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, England, Tunisia, and Italy, to mention a few. House Resolution 1031 would authorize the Committee to investigate and study the establishment, operation, and maintenance of such cemeteries. Mr. Speaker, I urge that House Resolution 1031 be adopted. consume. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may I concur in and agree with the statements made by the gentleman from Indiana and associate myself with them. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Adair). Mr. ADAIR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, this resolution will amend the investigative authority of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, presently authorized by House Resolution 101, 90th Congress, adopted February 21, 1967, to permit the committee to conduct an investigation and study of the establishment, operation, and maintenance of cemeteries of the United States in which veterans are buried. Members will recall that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs assumed jurisdiction over legislation relating to cemeteries in which veterans, are buried on October 20, 1967. Prior to that date, legislative jurisdiction had been vested in the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. I am hopeful that our committee can make a comprehensive study and investigation of the entire cemetery system and that from this study and investigation, a national policy on the burial of veterans and servicemen will evolve. If the committee is to realize this objective, the authority to conduct the investigation and study as set forth in this resolution is necessary. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of House Resolution 1031. (Mr. ADAIR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. SMITH of California. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the resolution. Mr. MADDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. TEAGUE]. (Mr. TEAGUE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks and to include extraneous matter.) Mr. TEAGUE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the resolution which we are considering today is an amendment to House Resolution 101 approved by the House early in the first session which gave the Committee on Veterans' Affairs general authority to make a complete and continuing investigation of various programs coming within its legislation jurisdiction. Last October the House by unanimous vote transferred the subject of national cemeteries, with the exception of those within the Department of the Interior, from the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. House Resolution 1031 would amend the original authorizing resolution by authorizing the Committee on Veterans' Affairs to conduct a full and complete investigation of the establishment, operation, and maintenance of cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war are or may be buried in the United States or abroad. At the present time there are 82 national cemeteries administered by the Department of the Army located throughout the United States, and 26 of these are presently closed for future burials. The Veterans' Administration operates 21 cemeteries in connection with its hospitals. These cemeteries were inherited at the time of the consolidation of the Veterans' Bureau with the Veterans' Administration back in 1930 from the National Home for Volunteer Soldiers. Five of these cemeteries operated under the auspices of the Veterans' Administration are now closed, and burial in these cemeteries is largely restricted to those dying in Veteran's Administration hospitals and not having suitable places for burial provided by their families. The American Battle Monuments Commission maintains cemeteries overseas in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, England, Italy, Tunisia, the Philippines, and Mexico. This, Mr. Speaker, is the background to the resolution, and I know of no objection to it. I hope in a matter of weeks a special subcommittee of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs will commence hearings during which time the sponsors of the 70-odd measures pending before the committee will be given an opportunity to testify, together with representatives of the veterans organizations, the Veterans' Administration, the American Battle Monuments Commission, the Department of the Army, and other interested groups in this field. I include at this point the following letter: Hon. OLIN E. TEAGUE, Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, MARCH 1, 1968. DEAR MR. TEAGUE: Since the Veterans Affairs Committee now has cognizance of our cemeteries, we respectfully submit herewith some information of a general nature concerning our operations which may be of interest or value to the Committee. The American Battle Monuments Commission was established in 1923 to commemorate the achievements of our Armed Forces during World War I. Its responsibilities were later extended to all areas in which our Armed Forces have conducted operations since April 6, 1917. Commissioners are appointed by the President and serve without compensation. A list of the current membership is appended as Incl. 1. General John J. Pershing was the Commission's first Chairman. He was succeeded on his death by General George C. Marshall who in turn was succeeded by the present Chairman, General Jacob L. Devers. The Commission currently administers and maintains on foreign soil twentythree military cemeteries, eleven separate monuments and memorials, and two bronze tablets. It also maintains three World War II memorials on United States soil. A listing of all of the cemeteries and memorials administered by the Commission is appended as Incl. 2. Our World War I commemorative program provided for the erection on foreign soil of 11 monuments, two bronze tablets, and a memorial chapel in each of the eight permanent WW I military cemeteries overseas built by the Quartermaster General. In 1934, the administration and maintenance of these eight cemeteries were turned over to this Commission, as they were closed by treaty to further burials, except for war dead still to be found on the battlefield, and therefore were more truly memorials than cemeteries. Congress appropriated $4,503,359 to the Commission for the WW I commemorative program of which $4,413,033 was expended and $90,326 was returned to the Treasury. In 1946, the Commission embarked on its program to commemorate the achievements of our Armed Forces in World War II. This program consisted of the construction of fourteen permanent military cemeteries on foreign soil and three memorials on United States soil. Each cemetery was designed as a separate and distinctive memorial to our war dead. All fourteen are sited at or near the scene of a major military action and contain an immaculate and carefully landscaped graves area, a memorial chapel conceived and executed by Americn artists and architects, walls or tablets of the Missing listing in stone those servicemen and women missing in the general area, and large battle maps depicting the military action which occurred in the general region as well as other battle areas and theatres of the war. Additionally, each cemetary contains a comfortable and attractive visitors room where next of kin, relatives, friends and other visitors may pause to refresh themselves. The World War II memorial at Honolulu also commemorates the achievements of our Armed Forces during the Korean War and the Missing of that war. Congress appropriated $35,793,029 for the WW II commemorative program of which $34,415,255 was expended and $1,377,774 was returned to the Treasury. In Mexico City we maintain a small cemetery which contains 750 war dead of the Mexican War. Altogether, 124,880 war dead of the Mexican War, World War I and World War II are interred in our cemeteries on foreign soil. In addition, the 91,591 Missing of World War I, II and Korea are commemorated by name in stone either at these cemeteries or our three separate memorials on U.S. soil. More than a million persons visit these cemeteries and memorials each year. Many are Americans, but the greater number are foreign nationals. The beauty and immaculate appearance of these shrines demonstrate to all the nation's reverence for those who gave the supreme sacrifice. Each cemetery superintendent and his assistant has been carefully selected both for his ability to administer the cemetery and his ability to meet the public and conduct himself with tact and sympathetic attention. Each is conversant with what the artists and sculptors wish to portray at the memorials, the military actions which took place in the vicinity, and other places of interest nearby. Also, all are at least bilingual, speaking the language native to the country as well as English. When relatives and friends of those interred or memorialized there make their presence known, the superintendent or his assistant personally locates the memorial or grave site and escorts them to it. Each week we receive letters from relatives and others expressing their admiration of the cemeteries and for kindnesses extended to them. The Commission assists friends and relatives of those interred in its overseas cemeteries with arrangements for floral decoration of the graves. Donors are furnished with a polaroid color photograph of the flowers on the grave site. This not only lets them see the offering, but confirms its delivery, Arrangements for over 1,000 grave site decorations are made through the Commission each year. The Commission, also on request, furnishes close relatives of those interred or memorialized overseas with a photograph of the appropriate headstone or inscription of the name of a tablet of the missing. About 1,400 requests for such photographs are filled each year. Our appropriation for FY 1968 is $2,370,000 of which $86,000 is being withheld by the Bureau of the Budget to reduce the FY 1968 budget deficit. A budget of $2,329,000 has been approved by The President for FY 1969. Congressional hearings on the FY 1969 budget have not yet been held. During the peak construction period of our World War II commemorative program, Commission personnel exceeded 900. For the past several years, however, the number of personnel has been stabilized at 440. During the next five years, we plan to complete several major commemorative projects. Congress has charged us with construction of a memorial to General of the Armies John J. Pershing in Washington, D.C. The memorial's preliminary concept and design as well as the architects have been approved by us and the Fine Arts Commission. Preparation of detail design and working drawings will commence as soon as funds become available. The concept and architects for a Utah Beach Memorial and a Guam Memorial have also been approved by us and the Fine Arts Commission. Preliminary working drawings and specifications are in the process of being made and should be completed soon. Another commemorative project in the planning stage is our small monuments project. As you know, there are a number of relatively isolated places where Americans made heavy sacrifices during WW II and Korea, such as Guadalcanal, Seoul, Bataan and Leyte. We hope to commemorate these and others with a simple inscribed stone marker requiring little maintenance. Approximately forty such sites are under consideration. As yet, a design for the marker has not been submitted to the Fine Arts Commission for consideration. Enclosed are copies of our descriptive pamphlet and copies of The National Sculpture Review which features many of the works at our cemeteries and memorials. We hope they will be of interest to you. Please do not hesitate to ask for any additional information that you may wish concerning the Commission. Sincerely, JACOB L. DEVERS, General, U.S. Army (Retired), Chairman. Mr. BOLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support House Resolution 1031 which would amend House Resolution 101, adopted a year ago, so as to add a provision for investigation and study of veterans' cemeteries. Through House Resolution 101 we authorized the Committee on Veterans' Affairs to conduct examinations of programs of veterans' assistance. Among these programs were compensation and pension, hospitalization and medical care, insurance and indemnity, education and training, and burial allowance. By this proposed resolution we would add to the list, establishment and operation of veterans' cemeteries. The purpose of the investigation, as originally stated by House Resolution 1031, is to "determine whether such programs are being conducted economically, efficiently, in the best interests of the Government and the beneficiaries of such programs, and in such a manner as to avoid the misuse of. Government funds, whether such programs adequately serve the needs and protect the welfare of the beneficiaries of such programs; and whether changes in the law or in the administration and operation of the programs either will lead to greater effi 92-497-68-2 ciency and economy or will make such programs more adequately serve the needs of the beneficiaries." The 90th Congress has instituted ambitious and far-reaching innovations concerning many of these programs since the committee began the study last year. First to come to mind is the increase and expansion of veterans education assistance, and the disability pension increase. Especially, therefore, when I contemplate the success of the study, I believe that we are wrong in excluding a program which, according to increasing concern for it, is among the most prominent areas of veterans benefits. Letters from constituents, to mention only one source of information, indicate growing public dissatisfaction over scarcity of space in national cemeteries. National cemeteries, as you know, are those in which a veteran is entitled to burial at no expense to his estate. The burial right is one of the most traditional and deeply engrained rewards for the veteran's sacrifice to his Nation. In spite of the growing lack of space, our Government still grants all requests for veterans' burial ground. However, many national cemeteries have been closed. An increasing number of families, therefore, may have no choice but to have their beloved one buried at an inconvenient locality far from home. I fear then, that the burial right is coming to lose its true value and significance. The problem calls for study by the Veterans' Affairs Committee, here proposed, for acquisition of new land. Another problem for study is that presented by restricting of burial in Arlington to all but high Government officials. Judging from response of my constituents, the veteran has always cherished the tradition of an Arlington Cemetery open to all Americans who gave or risked their lives, regardless of whether they subsequently obtained Cabinet rank. This is to mention only a few aspects of the public concern over the present tradition of veterans burial benefits. The problems of national cemeteries are steadily growing more acute. There is no reason, therefore, to exclude from the Veterans' Affairs Committee study and investigation of this important subject area of veterans benefits. I strongly urge the passage of House Resolution 1031. RECOMMENDATION No. 26 OF U.S. VETERANS' ADVISORY COMMISSION The Commission recommends several improvements in cemetery administration and burial allowance. BACKGROUND TO RECOMMENDATION Four cemetery systems are managed by Federal agencies. The National Cemetery system operated by the Army is the largest. Overseas cemeteries are operated by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The Veterans Administration controls a number of cemeteries adjacent to its installations. The Department of Interior manages, as part of the National Park Service, cemeteries transferred from Army jurisdiction in 1933. Because the national system began as Civil War burial grounds, most of the cemeteries are in the East. Their expansion has been sporadic, and since 1950, no new cemeteries have been added. The 85 cemeteries which constitute the national system occupy more than 3,700 acres of land and have potential for 1,200,000 gravesites, 58 percent of which have already been developed. Eighty percent of the developed gravesites are occupied or reserved, with the remaining 20 percent available for burials. Approximately one million gravesites can be made available. for future use within the current acreage. The Battle Monuments Commission controls 23 overseas cemeteries, which are closed to burial except for bodies found on battlefields. The Veterans Administration has 24 cemeteries, six of which are closed: 131,000 of the total VA gravesites available are filled and 315,000 are open for future burials. The National Park Service controls, as national monuments, 13 cemeteries, which encompass 175 acres. Six of these cemeteries are still open, but availability for future burials is limited. Eligibility for burials in Federally-operated cemeteries varies with the operating agencies. Eligibility for burial in the national cemeteries and the Park Service cemeteries embraces active duty personnel, as well as honorably discharged veterans of U.S. service or citizens who served honorably in allied Armed Forces, |