[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2076 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2076

 To further the protection and recognition of veterans' memorials, to 
  amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for grants to repair 
              veterans memorials, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 13, 2003

   Mr. John 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, to 
  amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for grants to repair 
              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 2003''.

SEC. 2. CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR DESTRUCTION OF VETERANS' MEMORIALS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1369. Destruction of veterans' memorials
    ``(a) Whoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (b), 
willfully injures or destroys, or attempts to injure or destroy, any 
structure, plaque, statue, or other monument on public property 
commemorating the service of any person or persons in the armed forces 
of the United States shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not 
more than 10 years, or both.
    ``(b) A circumstance described in this subsection is that--
            ``(1) in committing the offense described in subsection 
        (a), the defendant travels or causes another to travel in 
        interstate or foreign commerce, or uses the mail or an 
        instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce; or
            ``(2) the structure, plaque, statue, or other monument 
        described in subsection (a) is located on property owned by, or 
        under the jurisdiction of, the Federal Government.''.
    (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:

``1369. Destruction of veterans' memorials.''.

SEC. 3. 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.

SEC. 4. GRANTS TO REPAIR VETERANS MEMORIALS.

    (a) Establishment of Grant Program.--Chapter 24 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 2412. Grants to repair memorials
    ``(a) Establishment of Grant Program.--Subject to the succeeding 
provisions of this section, the Secretary may make grants to a State or 
a qualified organization for the purpose of repairing or restoring a 
covered memorial.
    ``(b) Application.--A grant under this section may be made only 
upon submission of an application to the Secretary in such form and 
manner, and containing such information, as the Secretary may require.
    ``(c) Amount of Grant.--(1) The amount of a grant under this 
section may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the repair or 
restoration of the covered memorial, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(2) The recipient of the grant shall contribute the excess of the 
aggregate costs of the repair of the covered memorial over the grant.
    ``(3) If a recipient of a grant under this section uses any part of 
the funds provided through such grant for a purpose other than that for 
which the grant was made, the United States shall be entitled to 
recover from such recipient the total of all grants made under this 
section to such recipient in connection with the repair or restoration 
of the covered memorial.
    ``(d) Use of Grant Funds.--Sums received pursuant to a grant in 
this section shall be used for the sole purpose of repairing or 
restoring a covered memorial.
    ``(e) Standards.--A repair or restoration of a covered memorial 
under a grant under this section shall conform to such standards and 
guidelines as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe.
    ``(f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may by 
regulation prescribe such additional terms and conditions for grants 
under this section as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `qualified organization' means any 
        organization described in section 5902(a) of this title.
            ``(2) The term `covered memorial' means a memorial or 
        monument that the Secretary determines commemorates the service 
        in the Armed Forces of an individual, or group of individuals, 
        or a particular military event, but does not include any 
        memorial or monument under the administrative jurisdiction of 
        the Secretary of the Interior.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--(1) There is authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004 and 
for each succeeding fiscal year through fiscal year 2008 for the 
purpose of making grants under subsection (a).
    ``(2) Sums appropriated under paragraph (1) of this section shall 
remain available until expended. If all funds from a grant under this 
section have not been utilized by a recipient for the purpose for which 
the grant was made within three years after such grant is made, the 
United States shall be entitled to recover any such unused grant funds 
from such recipient.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``2412. Grants to repair memorials.''.
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