JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Veterans cemeteries would be established in Jacksonville and Sarasota under a bill passed by the U.S. House Wednesday and sent to the President George W. Bush.

The House unanimously approved the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003. It calls for the creation of six new cemeteries across the country over the next four years, two in Florida.

"This has been one of my top priorities since I was first elected," said U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., who has sponsored language over the last three years to create a national cemetery near Jacksonville. "Today's vote keeps a sacred commitment to our veterans."

Florida has nearly two million veterans, the second largest population in the nation. The number of veteran deaths are increasing each year as World War II and Korean War-era veterans get older.

Florida also has national cemeteries in Bushnell in central Florida, in Pensacola and in St. Augustine.

Beyond the two in Florida, the law directs the secretary of Veterans Affairs to create national cemeteries near Philadelphia, Birmingham, Ala., Bakersfield, Calif., and Greenville/Columbia, S.C.

After Bush signs the bill, Veterans Affairs will have 120 days to come up with a schedule on how the cemeteries will be established, estimate the costs and identify planning funds for site selections. The cemetaries are supposed to be open within four years.