[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1903 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1903

To prohibit the return of veterans memorial objects to foreign nations 
                 without specific authorization in law.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 1, 1998

Mr. Thomas (for himself, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Helms, Mr. Hagel, 
and Mr. Smith of Oregon) introduced the following bill; which was read 
        twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To prohibit the return of veterans memorial objects to foreign nations 
                 without specific authorization in law.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON RETURN OF VETERANS MEMORIAL OBJECTS WITHOUT 
              SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION IN LAW.

    (a) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
President may not transfer a veterans memorial object to a foreign 
country or entity controlled by a foreign government, or otherwise 
transfer or convey such object to a person or entity for purposes of 
the ultimate transfer or conveyance of such object to a foreign country 
or entity controlled by a foreign government, unless specifically 
authorized by law.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Entity controlled by a foreign government.--The term 
        ``entity controlled by a foreign government'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 2536(c)(1) of title 10, United 
        States Code.
            (2) Veterans memorial object.--The term ``veterans memorial 
        object'' means any object, including a physical structure or 
        portion thereof, that--
                    (A) is located at a cemetery of the National 
                Cemetery System, war memorial, or military installation 
                in the United States;
                    (B) is dedicated to, or otherwise memorializes, the 
                death in combat or combat-related duties of members of 
                the United States Armed Forces; and
                    (C) was brought to the United States from abroad as 
                a memorial of combat abroad.
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