[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 813 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.813

                       One Hundred Fifth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
 the seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven


                                 An Act


 
To amend chapter 91 of title 18, United States Code, to provide criminal 
    penalties for theft and willful vandalism at national cemeteries.

    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' Cemetery Protection Act of 
1997''.

SEC. 2. SENTENCING FOR OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY AT NATIONAL 
              CEMETERIES.

    (a) In General.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of 
title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission 
shall review and amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide a 
sentencing enhancement of not less than 2 levels for any offense 
against the property of a national cemetery.
    (b) Commission Duties.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Sentencing Commission shall ensure that the sentences, guidelines, and 
policy statements for offenders convicted of an offense described in 
that subsection are--
        (1) appropriately severe; and
        (2) reasonably consistent with other relevant directives and 
    with other Federal sentencing guidelines.
    (c) Definition of National Cemetery.--In this section, the term 
``national cemetery'' means a cemetery--
        (1) in the National Cemetery System established under section 
    2400 of title 38, United States Code; or
        (2) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army, the 
    Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, or the 
    Secretary of the Interior.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.