Cemetery Act advances

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — The Native American Veterans' Cemetery Act has advanced to be signed by President Bush.

If signed by the president, the bill will allow tribal governments to become eligible to apply for state cemetery grants to build or improve tribal veterans' cemeteries.

"Native American soldiers who have served or perished protecting our country in the line of duty deserve to be honored and buried at home," said U.S. Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., who sponsored the bill.

Although Native American's have the highest record of service in the armed forces per capita, with 9,800 Native American veterans in New Mexico alone, tribes cannot apply for state cemetery grants.

In April, Udall testified on the Act, which was unanimously passed by the House Veteran's Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. It passed the full House of Representatives unanimously in July. The Act was part of a Veteran's Affairs Omnibus package that was recently passed by the House.

The bill has received support from the Navajo Nation and the National American Indian Veterans organization, who have been advocating for the Act since it was proposed by Udall.