To temporarily expand the authorized uses of grants awarded under the Veterans Legacy Program of the National Cemetery Administration, and for other purposes.

The bill falls within Congress's enumerated powers under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 (spending for the general welfare) and Clause 12 (armies) and Clause 14 (rules for land and naval forces). Veterans programs are a legitimate exercise of these powers. The temporary expansion of grant uses is a permissible exercise of congressional discretion.

The Constitution vests in Congress the power to provide for the general welfare, including care for veterans; however, the Tenth Amendment reserves to the States or to the people all powers not expressly delegated to the federal government. The Veterans Legacy Program, administered by the National Cemetery Administration, appears to fall within the enumerated powers of Congress to support the military and declare war, and to make all laws necessary and proper for executing those powers. Yet, temporary expansions of authorized uses must be strictly construed to avoid encroaching upon State resp…

This bill falls squarely within the enumerated powers of Congress to provide for the common defense and to make rules for the regulation of the land and naval forces. The Veterans Legacy Program, administered by the National Cemetery Administration, directly relates to the care and commemoration of those who have served in the military, a responsibility that flows from Congress's power to raise and support armies and to provide for the general welfare. The temporary expansion of grant uses does not exceed the limited and defined scope of federal authority, nor does it intrude upon powers reser…

The proposed bill to temporarily expand the authorized uses of grants under the Veterans Legacy Program falls squarely within the constitutional authority of Congress. The power to provide for the general welfare, as enumerated in Article I, Section 8, Clause 1, empowers Congress to appropriate funds for the care and commemoration of veterans—a matter of national concern. Moreover, the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) permits Congress to choose the means to execute its enumerated powers, including the temporary expansion of grant uses to further the objectives of t…