Bill Text: NJ AR244 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to include in definition of veteran for burial and interment purposes military reservists who were deployed for at least six months.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-18 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR244 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR244-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to include in definition of veteran for burial and interment purposes military reservists who were deployed for at least six months.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to expand the definition of veteran as it relates to burial and interment policies to include members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty for at least six months.
Whereas, New Jersey is grateful for the sacrifices that thousands of members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces and their families have made in service to this State and this nation, and recognizes the hardships that may result from periods of deployment; and
Whereas, Many members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States are deployed for prolonged periods of time; and
Whereas, While deployed, these reservists may be placed in similar, if not the same, perilous circumstances as active duty members of the Armed Forces; and
Whereas, Reservists must serve for 20 years to qualify for burial and interment at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery; and
Whereas, Federal funding for the cemetery is contingent upon the State following certain eligibility standards for admission, such that the State cannot admit reservists who do not meet the 20-year qualification; and
Whereas, Federal law should be amended to include in the definition of veteran for burial and interment purposes members o the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States who served on active duty for at least six months so that the State can lay these individuals to rest at the cemetery; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper for this House to respectfully urge Congress to expand the definition of veteran for burial and interment purposes to include reservists who have served on active duty for at least six months; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges Congress to expand the definition of veteran for burial and interment purposes to include members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served at least six months on active duty.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, and each Senator and Representative from New Jersey in the Congress of the United States.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution urges Congress to expand the definition of veteran for burial and interment purposes members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty for at least six months.
Currently, reservists do not qualify for burial and interment at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery if they serve less than 20 years. The State would lose federal funding for the cemetery if it expanded eligibility for admission, so it is the sponsor's hope that Congress expands the definition of veteran for burial and interment purposes to include reservists who have served at least six months on active duty.
