Number: RS20396
Title: MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS FOR U.S. VETERANS: INCREASING DEMANDS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Authors: Katherine Lemay Brown, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2000, P.L. 106-65, mandates military honors at funerals for all eligible veterans. The mandate will likely require the Department of Defense to divers 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.
Pages: 6
Date: Updated November 9, 1999