Washington D.C. — The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted today to send a bill creating a new national cemetery for veterans in El Paso County, Colorado, to the full committee for consideration.

“This is the furthest this bill has ever gone in the House,” said Congressman Lamborn. “I am cautiously optimistic that if we can continue our bipartisan efforts, we will be able to get a veterans cemetery authorized and built. I am pleased Rep. Salazar and I have been able to work together for the good of the veterans and their families in Southern Colorado.”

The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs’ on which Rep. Lamborn is the ranking member, had unanimously reported H.R. 1660 to the full committee for review last month

“With over 150,000 veterans in Southern Colorado it is important that we focus our attention on the needs of these veterans and their families, providing the opportunity for brave men and women to be buried closer to their homes and loved ones,” said Congressman Lamborn.

Just one day after his swearing ceremony in January, Rep. Lamborn introduced a similar bill, H.R. 295, which would direct the Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs to establish a national veterans’ cemetery in the four-county Pikes Peak region of Colorado. Rep. Lamborn successfully offered an amendment in subcommittee to Rep. Salazar’s more recent bill, H.R. 1660, to ensure that any veterans’ cemetery created in Southern Colorado be located in El Paso County.

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