PUBLIC LAW 105-261—OCT. 17, 1998 112 STAT. 2031 is not a member of the armed forces or an employee of the United States. "(d) REGULATIONS. —The Secretary of Defense shall by regulation establish a system for selection of units of the armed forces and other organizations to provide honor guard details. The system shall place an emphasis on balancing the funeral detail workload among the units and organizations providing honor guard details in an equitable manner as they are able to respond to requests for such details in terms of geographic proximity and available resources. The Secretary shall provide in such regulations that the armed force in which a veteran served shall not be considered to be a factor when selecting the military unit or other organization to provide an honor guard detail for the funeral of the veteran. "(e) ANNUAL REPORT. —The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on National Security of the House of Representatives a report not later than January 31 of each year beginning with 2001 and ending with 2005 on the experience of the Department of Defense under this section. Each such report shall provide data on the number of funerals supported under this section, the cost for that support, shown by manpower and other cost factors, and the number and costs of funerals supported by each participating organization. The data in the report shall be presented in a standard format, regardless of military department or other organization. "(f) VETERAN DEFINED. — In this section, the term Veteran' has the meaning given that term in section 101(2) of title 38.". (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: "1491. Honor guard details at funerals of veterans.". (c) TREATMENT OF PERFORMANCE OF HONOR GUARD FUNCTIONS BY RESERVES.—(1) Chapter 1215 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: "^ 12552. Funeral honor guard functions: prohibition of treatment as drill or training "Performance by a Reserve of honor guard functions at the funeral of a veteran may not be considered to be a period of drill or training otherwise required.". (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: "12552. Funeral honor guard functions: prohibition of treatment as drill or training.". (d) REPEAL OF LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR HONOR GUARD FUNCTIONS BY NATIONAL GUARD.— Section 114 of title 32, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking out "(a)"; and (2) by striking out subsection (b). (e) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEFINED.— In this section, the term "veterans service organization" means any organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code. SEC. 568. STATUS IN THE NAVAL RESERVE OF CADETS AT THE MER- CHANT MARINE ACADEMY. Section 1303(c) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 46 USC app. App. 1295(c)), is amended— I295b.
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