Military Funeral Honors for U.S. Veterans: Increasing Demands on the Department of Defense (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Nov. 9, 1999 |
| Report Number |
RS20396 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Katherine Lemay Brown, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000, P.L. 106-65 , mandates
military
honors at funerals for all eligible veterans. The mandate will likely require the Department of
Defense (DOD) to divert some defense funding and military manpower to a non-warfighting task.
This Act converts honors details from a time-honored tradition, which the military services rendered
according to their standards and resources, to a mandated requirement. Current funding pressures
and tight manpower levels, coupled with increasing veterans' requests and expectations, may make
it more difficult for the services to furnish sufficient personnel for veterans' funerals. However, the
current mandate appears to fall short of the veteran service organizations' expectations, which may
lead to continued controversy about the issue. This report will not be updated.
