[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2170 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2170

   To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit desecration of 
                          Veterans' memorials.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 2003

   Mrs. Lowey (for herself, Mr. Engel, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. 
  Israel, Mr. McNulty, and Mr. Owens) introduced the following bill; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit desecration of 
                          Veterans' memorials.

    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' Memorials Protection Act 
of 2003''.

SEC. 2. DESECRATION 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. Desecration of veterans' memorials
    ``(a) Whoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (b), 
willfully injures or commits any depredation against 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 or imprisoned not more than 10 
years, or both, but if the damage or attempted damage does not exceed 
the sum of $1,000, the defendant shall be fined under this title or 
imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
    ``(b) The circumstance referred to in subsection (a) is that in 
committing the offense, 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.''.
    (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. Desecration of veterans' memorials.''.
                                 <all>