[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3335 Introduced in House (IH)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3335
To further the protection and recognition of veterans' memorials, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 16, 2001
Mr. Udall of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the
Committees on the Judiciary, and 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
_______________________________________________________________________
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. Grants to provide for repair and upkeep of veterans memorials
on public property.
``Sec. 8701. Grants to provide for repair and upkeep of veterans
memorials on public property
``(a) The Secretary may make grants for the following purposes:
``(1) To cover the costs of the repair or restoration of
any injury or depredation to a veterans' memorial on public
property.
``(2) To cover any other cost associated with the repair,
restoration, maintenance, or upkeep of veterans' memorials on
public property.
``(b) A grant under subsection (a) with respect to a veterans'
memorial shall be made to the individual or entity that has authority
or responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the memorial. Any
such grant shall be in such manner and in accordance with such criteria
as the Secretary may prescribe.
``(c) Except as otherwise provided by law, a grant under this
section shall be made from amounts in the fund established under
subsection (d).
``(d)(1) There is established on the books of the Treasury a fund
to be known as the `Veterans' Memorial Restoration Fund' (in this
subsection referred to as the `Fund').
``(2) There shall be deposited in the Fund amounts as follows:
``(A) Amounts appropriated to the Fund.
``(B) Amounts collected as civil penalties under section
1369(b) of title 18.
``(C) Amounts donated to the United States for purposes of
deposit in the Fund.
``(D) Any other amounts transferred to the Fund under law.
``(3) Amounts in the Fund are available for the purpose of making
grants under this section. Such amounts may not be used for any other
purpose.
``(e) Amounts in the Fund are in addition to any other amounts
available to the Secretary for purposes of the repair, restoration,
maintenance, or upkeep of veterans' memorials.
``(f) In this section, the term `veterans' memorial' means a
structure, plaque, statue, or other monument 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 new section:
``Sec. 1369. Desecration of veterans' memorials on public property
``(a) Whoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (c),
willfully damages a veterans' memorial on public property shall be
punished--
``(1) if the cost of repairing the damage to such memorial
exceeds the sum of $1,000, by a fine under this title or
imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both; and
``(2) if the cost of repairing the damage to such memorial
does not exceed the sum of $1,000, by a fine under this title
or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
``(b)(1) Whoever violates subsection (a) shall be subject to a
civil penalty in an amount equal to the cost of repairing the damages
upon which the violation 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.
``(c) The circumstance referred to in subsection (a) is that, in
violating that subsection, the defendant--
``(1) travels or causes another to travel in interstate or
foreign commerce; or
``(2) uses the mail or an instrumentality of interstate or
foreign commerce.
``(d) As used in this section, the term `veterans' memorial' means
a structure, plaque, statue, or other monument commemorating the
service of any person or persons in the Armed Forces of the United
States.''.
(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 new item:
``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.
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