[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8792 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8792
To establish a flower ordering program for gravesites under the purview
of the American Battle Monuments Commission.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2024
Mr. Zinke introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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A BILL
To establish a flower ordering program for gravesites under the purview
of the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act of
2024''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION AUTHORITIES.
Section 2103 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking the ``and'' at
the end;
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of the Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act of 2024, establish a
modern and secure program and payment system for members of the
public to order floral arrangements for gravesites under the
Commission's purview, without excess administrative fees or
markup.'';
(2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``, marketing
professionals,'' after ``architects''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(l) Authority of Commission To Accept Certain Types of
Payments.--
``(1) Authority to accept credit card payments and
electronic funds transfers.--
``(A) In general.--The Commission may accept
payment of fees related to activities described in
subsection (a)(6) by credit card or electronic funds
transfer.
``(B) Use of vendors and third-party providers.--
``(i) In general.--The Commission may
contract with third-party providers, including
insured depository institutions and card
issuers (as such terms are defined in the Truth
in Lending Act), for purposes of accepting
payments by credit card or by electronic funds
transfer making every effort to find the best
value third party vendor.
``(ii) Payment of fees.--If a third-party
vendor with which the Commission contracts
requires a fee in connection with the
processing of credit payments or electronic
funds transfers, the person who is making such
payment or transfer shall pay such fee, not the
Commission.
``(C) Completion of payment.--If a person elects to
make a payment to the Commission by a method authorized
under subparagraph (A), the payment shall not be deemed
to be made until the Commission receives the funds.
``(2) Liability for nonpayment.--If a payment by credit
card, debit card, or charge card, so received is not duly paid,
or is paid and subsequently charged back to the Commission, the
person by whom such method of payment has been tendered shall
remain liable for the payment, to the same extent as if such
method of payment had not been tendered.
``(3) Electronic funds transfer defined.--In this section,
the term `electronic funds transfer'--
``(A) means a transfer of funds, other than a
transaction by check, draft, or similar paper
instrument, that is initiated through an electronic
terminal, personal device, or computer for the purpose
of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a financial
institution to debit or credit an account; and
``(B) includes point of sale transfers, automated
teller machine transfers, direct deposit or withdrawal
of funds, transfers initiated by personal device, and
transfers resulting from debit card transactions.
``(m) Crediting of Funds.--Any fees or reimbursements received by
the Commission for services provided under this section shall be
credited to the appropriation or fund used for paying the service costs
and shall remain available for obligation until expended.''.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION AND ADHERENCE TO CONGRESSIONAL INTENT.
(a) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the American
Battle Monuments Commission (referred to in this section as the
``Commission'') shall submit a report on implementation and performance
related to the amendments made by this Act to--
(1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee
on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee
on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(b) Contents of Annual Report.--Each report to Congress required
under subsection (a) shall include progress summaries of activities
related to--
(1) section 2103(a)(6) of title 36, United States Code,
including--
(A) data on flower orders;
(B) the Commission's active management of a flower
program including receiving and processing the order,
placing the floral tribute, providing via email a
digital photo of the decorated gravesite to the
requestor, and status of ordering systems;
(C) efforts to ensure easy, cost-effective access
for members of the public who would like to participate
in the flower program;
(D) creative marketing of the flower program to
include public service advertising and public-private
partnerships; and
(E) the vetting process for florists involved with
the flower program; and
(2) promotion of the Commission's activities pursuant to
section 2102(a) of title 36, United States Code.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums
as necessary, as determined by the Commission, to provide the services
described in section 2103(a)(6) of title 36, United States Code.
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