Legislation reintroduced by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) would authorize a permanent land transfer needed to expand the Black Hills National Cemetery.
Bicameral versions of the Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act outline a permanent transfer of approximately 200 acres of land held by the Bureau of Land Management to expand the Black Hills National Cemetery outside of Sturgis, South Dakota.
“It is important that South Dakota’s veterans know that the Black Hills National Cemetery will be able to accommodate them for generations to come,” Rounds said. “I hope this non-controversial proposal to expand the cemetery’s boundary moves quickly through Congress.”
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act limits land transfers to a lifespan of 20 years, so the Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act is needed to make the land transfer permanent.
“Our nation owes deep and eternal gratitude to those who have served and the families that have stood beside them,” Noem said. “By allowing for the permanent expansion of the Black Hills National Cemetery, veterans and military families for generations to come can be assured that our country will forever honor their courageous service and tremendous sacrifices.”
Rounds and Noem first introduced the legislation during the 114th Congress, and the House version of the bill was approved in September. The measure was nearing passage in the Senate in the last Congress, which is why the lawmakers quickly reintroduced the bill in the new session.