Sec. 102. VETERANS FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE PROTECTION
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## SEC. 102 VETERANS FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE PROTECTION ###
(a)In General Section of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: > > ### “(h) > > > ####
(1)> > With respect to the interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery, the Secretary shall ensure that— > > > ##### “(A) > > the expressed wishes of the next of kin or other agent of the deceased veteran are respected and given appropriate deference when evaluating whether the proposed interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony affects the safety and security of the national cemetery and visitors to the cemetery; > > > ##### “(B) > > to the extent possible, all appropriate public areas of the cemetery, including committal shelters, chapels, and benches, may be used by the family of the deceased veteran for contemplation, prayer, mourning, or reflection; and > > > ##### “(C) > > during such interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony, the family of the deceased veteran may display any religious or other symbols chosen by the family. > > > #### “(2) > > Subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary under paragraph (4), including such regulations ensuring the security of a national cemetery, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide to any military or volunteer veterans honor guard, including such guards belonging to a veterans service organization or other nongovernmental group that provides services to veterans, access to public areas of a national cemetery if such access is requested by the next of kin or other agent of a deceased veteran whose interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony is being held in such cemetery. > > > #### “(3) > > With respect to the interment or funeral, memorial service, or ceremony of a deceased veteran at a national cemetery, the Secretary shall notify the next of kin or other agent of the deceased veteran of funeral honors available to the deceased veteran, including such honors provided by any military or volunteer veterans honor guard described in paragraph (2). > > > #### “(4) > > The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection.” > . ###
(b)Interim Implementation **[**[38 U.S.C. 2404 note](/us/usc/t38/s2404)**]** The Secretary may carry out paragraphs
(1)through
(3)of section 2404(h) of such title, as added by subsection (a), before the Secretary prescribes regulations pursuant to paragraph
(4)of such section, as so added. ###
(c)Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of section 2404(h) of such title, as added by subsection (a). Such report shall include a certification of whether the Secretary is in compliance with all of the provisions of such section.
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Sec. 102
VETERANS FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE PROTECTION
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