[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1908 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1908

   To prohibit performance of military honors and burial benefits to 
                  persons convicted of capital crimes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 17, 1997

   Mr. Bachus (for himself, Mr. Lucas of Oklahoma, and Mr. Everett) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
National Security, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure, and Veterans' Affairs, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To prohibit performance of military honors and burial benefits to 
                  persons convicted of capital crimes.

    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 ``American Hero Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF PERFORMANCE OF MILITARY HONORS AND PROVISION OF 
              BURIAL BENEFITS UPON DEATH OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF 
              CAPITAL CRIMES.

    (a) Military Funerals.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
of Transportation, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not 
operating as a service in the Navy, may not provide military honors at 
the funeral of a person who has been convicted of a crime under State 
or Federal law for which death is a possible punishment and sentenced 
to death or life imprisonment without parole.
    (b) Burial in National Cemeteries.--A person described in 
subsection (a) is not eligible for burial in a national cemetery or for 
any burial benefit provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under 
chapter 23 of title 38, United States Code.
    (c) Applicability of Section.--This section applies without regard 
to any other provision of law relating to funeral or burial benefits.
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