Hershel Woody Williams State Committal Shelter Act of 2024

This Act may be cited as the Hershel Woody Williams State Committal Shelter Act of 2024.

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program for the construction or renovation of committal shelters at State-owned veterans’ cemeteries to ensure attendees of burial services at such cemeteries are protected from inclement weather (in this section referred to as the program).

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit applications from States for participation in the program.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall select, on a competitive basis, three State-owned veterans’ cemeteries for participation in the program.

Each cemetery selected by the Secretary for participation in the program shall be located in an area with drastic variation in annual temperature and weather patterns.

One cemetery selected by the Secretary for participation in the program shall be located in a State in which each county of that State is served by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

In selecting cemeteries for participation in the program, the Secretary shall prioritize cemeteries based on relative demonstrated need, as determined by the Secretary.

In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consider—

(i) the number of veterans’ families served by a cemetery; and

(ii) the relative severity of weather at a cemetery.

The Secretary shall carry out the program by entering into a cooperative agreement (as described in section 6305 of title 31, United States Code) with each cemetery selected for participation in the program.

At each cemetery selected for participation in the program, the Secretary shall construct one or more new committal shelters, or renovate one or more existing committal shelters, so that each such shelter—

(1) is fully enclosed; and

(2) has heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and restroom services necessary for hosting not more than 50 individuals.

The share of the cost of the construction or renovation of a committal shelter under the program shall be as follows:

(A) 50 percent Federal funds, subject to paragraph (2).

(B) 50 percent funds provided by State or local governments, nonprofit organizations, or private entities.

Each cemetery participating in the program shall receive not more than $2,000,000 in Federal funds through the program.

The total Federal share of the cost of construction and renovation of all committal shelters under the program shall not exceed $5,000,000.

Amounts obligated and expended by the Secretary under the program may be used for any activities that support the construction or renovation of committal shelters at cemeteries participating in the program, including costs associated with compliance with laws (including regulations).

Amounts to carry out the program, as provided in advance in appropriations Acts from amounts specifically appropriated to carry out the purposes of this Act, may be derived from amounts appropriated to carry out section 2408 of title 38, United States Code.

The Federal Government shall not be required to provide any amounts for the maintenance or upkeep of any committal shelter after the termination of the cooperative agreement concerned.

The Secretary shall revise regulations as necessary to carry out this section.