Requires that veterans cemeteries be treated as sites permitting supplemental guide signs on Federal-aid highways.
[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1644 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1644
To further the protection and recognition of veterans' memorials, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 7, 2001
Mr. Campbell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To further the protection and recognition of veterans' memorials, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Memorial Preservation and
Recognition Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. VETERANS' MEMORIAL RESTORATION FUND.
(a) Establishment.--Part VI of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:
``CHAPTER 87--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
``Sec.
``8701. Veterans' Memorial Restoration Fund.
``Sec. 8701. Veterans' Memorial Restoration Fund
``(a) There is established on the books of the Treasury a fund to
be known as the `Veterans' Memorial Restoration Fund' (in this section
referred to as the `Fund').
``(b) There shall be deposited in the Fund amounts as follows:
``(1) Amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Fund.
``(2) Amounts collected as civil penalties under section
1369(b) of title 18.
``(3) Amounts donated to the United States for purposes of
deposit in the Fund.
``(4) Any other amounts transferred to the Fund by the
Secretary under law.
``(c) Amounts in the Fund shall be available to the Secretary as
follows:
``(1) To cover the costs of the repair or restoration of
injuries or depredations to veterans' memorials.
``(2) To cover any other costs associated with the repair,
restoration, maintenance, or upkeep of veterans' memorials.
``(d) Amounts in the Fund shall be in addition to any other amounts
available to the Secretary for purposes of the repair, restoration,
maintenance, or upkeep of veterans' memorials.
``(e) In this section, the term `veterans' memorial' means any
structure, plaque, statue, or other monument on public property
commemorating the service of any person or persons in the Armed
Forces.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The tables of chapters at the beginning
of title 38, United States Code, and at the beginning of part VI of
that title, are each amended by adding at the end the following new
item:
``87. Miscellaneous Matters................................. 8701''.
SEC. 3. CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PENALTIES FOR DESECRATION OF VETERANS'
MEMORIALS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1369. Desecration of veterans' memorials
``(a) Whoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (c),
willfully injures or commits any depredation against any structure,
plaque, statue, or other monument on public property commemorating the
service of any person or persons in the armed forces of the United
States, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10
years, or both, but if the damage or attempted damage does not exceed
the sum of $1,000, the defendant shall be fined under this title,
imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
``(b)(1) Whoever commits an offense described by subsection (a)
shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount equal to the cost of
repairing the injury or depredation upon which the offense is based.
``(2) A civil penalty for an offense under this subsection is in
addition to any fine or penalty for the offense under subsection (a) or
any other provision of law.
``(3) Amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited in
the Veterans' Memorial Restoration Fund under section 8701 of title 38,
and available for use in accordance with the provisions of subsection
(c) of that section.
``(c) The circumstance referred to in subsection (a) is that in
committing the offense, the defendant travels or causes another to
travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or uses the mail or an
instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``1369. Desecration of veterans' memorials.''.
SEC. 4. HIGHWAY SIGNS RELATING TO VETERANS CEMETERIES.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the terms of any agreement entered
into by the Secretary of Transportation and a State under section
109(d) or 402(a) of title 23, United States Code, a veterans cemetery
shall be treated as a site for which a supplemental guide sign may be
placed on any Federal-aid highway.
(b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall apply to an agreement
entered into before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11552-11553)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 363.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4733)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
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Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.