[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 404 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 404

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 10, 1999

   Mr. Thomas (for himself, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Helms, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. 
Coverdell, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, 
 Mr. Roberts, Mr. Nickles, and Mr. Sessions) 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 THE RETURN OF VETERANS MEMORIAL OBJECTS TO 
              FOREIGN NATIONS WITHOUT SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION IN LAW.

    (a) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding section 2572 of title 10, United 
States Code, or 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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