Senate pushes veterans cemetery near Springs
Colorado's U.S. senators introduced a bill Wednesday that would authorize a veterans cemetery near Colorado Springs.
The measure is another step in a decadelong battle by local veterans groups to get the Department of Veterans Affairs to build a cemetery that's closer to the city than Fort Logan, in Denver.
Sen. Michael Bennet said Colorado Springs and its southern neighbors have enough of a veteran population to justify a cemetery, but have faced VA regulations that say Colorado Springs is too close to Denver to merit its own national cemetery. The measure penned by Bennet and Sen. Mark Udall would cut through that red tape by mandating a cemetery here.
It's identical to a measure in the House that's sponsored by Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn and Democratic Rep. John Salazar.
A similar move last year ended when Congress adjourned without taking up the matter.
It may gain new momentum this year, since VA said last fall it would examine cemetery options in Colorado Springs.
Cemetery proponent retired Army Col. Vic Fernandez said the Senate measure adds pressure on the VA to move ahead.
"What pleases me the most is that Sens. Bennet and Udall are getting engaged on this issue," Fernandez said.
