mr. chairman it is a pleasure to appear before this honorable committee today. >> thank you, mr. chairman wilson mr. kelly your recognized. >> thank you for the opportunity to present our views on the national cemetery policy. i will commit my time to two major points. . . reducing the population threshold. lowering the population threshold to 1,000 veterans would immediately make several eligibles for a cemetery regardless of changes to the mile radius threshold. the threshold must be implemented so more of our veterans will have access to this benefit. in 1973 nca established a burial allow once that provided partial reimbursements for burial costs. the current payment is $2,000 for burial expenses for service connected death, 304 non-service connected death and 300 for plot allowance. the payout covers 72% of the payout cost for service connected death, 22% from on service connected death and 54% for a burial plot cost. in 2007 these benefits were lowered to 23%, 4%, and 14% respectively. it is time to bring these benefits back to their original value. the national average cost for a funeral

mr. chairman it is a pleasure to appear before this honorable committee today. >> thank you, mr. chairman wilsonmr. kelly your recognized. >> thank you for the opportunity to present our views on the national cemetery policy. i will commit my time to two major points. . . because they will not reach that 170,000 population threshold. they have spent years developing and maintaining a cemetery system based on growing veteran population. in 2010 our veteran population will begin to decline. because of this trend, a new threshold model must be ensured so they will have access. there are two options to modify this threshold. reduce the die am er the of the radius or reduce the population threshold. and of course, supporting the lowering population threshold to 100,000 veterans would immediately make several areas available to a national cemetery. threshold. the threshold must be implemented so more of our veterans will have access to this benefit. in 1973 nca established a burial allow once that provided partial reimbursements for burial costs. the current payment is $2,000 for burial expenses for s

mr. chairman. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina rise? mr. wilson: mr. speaker, i ask permission to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. wilson: mr. speaker, the president continues to try to sell the false myth that the health care debate is only between the democrat bill of the stat -- over the status quo. this is completely inaccurate. republicans have offered different solutions and legislation to fix what is wrong with our health insurance system. unfortunately, democrats are unwilling to acknowledge that there may be other proposals, reforms that do not add billions to the national debt, cost millions of jobs or expand the size and power of the federal government. republicans believe we can make health insurance more affordable by giving americans more of their own tax dollars to purchase insurance, shop for plans across state lines and association health plans for small businesses. the debate should be built on the honest exchange over what proposals are best to