[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2333 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2333

To amend title 10, United States Code, to expedite the prompt return of 
the remains of deceased members of the Armed Forces to their loved ones 
                              for burial.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 15, 2007

  Mr. Stupak introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to expedite the prompt return of 
the remains of deceased members of the Armed Forces to their loved ones 
                              for burial.

    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 ``Sergeant First Class James Priestap 
and Private First Class Alan Blohm Fallen Servicemember Respectful 
Return Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Members of the Armed Forces who die under the 
        circumstances described in section 1481 of title 10, United 
        States Code, have made the ultimate sacrifice for the United 
        States, and their remains should be treated with the utmost 
        reverence and respect.
            (2) The family and friends of a deceased member of the 
        Armed Forces should be able to greet the remains of their loved 
        one at an airport near the place designated for the disposition 
        of the remains and provide for the burial of their loved one 
        with proper honors and without undue delay or complication.
            (3) Rural areas are frequently served by smaller regional 
        airports and are often a significant distance from a major 
        airport, and the practice of the Department of Defense to 
        finish the aircraft portion of the transportation of the 
        remains of a deceased member of the Armed Forces at a major 
        airport imposes undue burdens on the family and friends of the 
        deceased member.

SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION OF REMAINS OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
              FORCES AND CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS.

    Section 1482(a)(8) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sentence: ``When transportation of 
the remains includes transportation by aircraft under section 562 of 
the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 
(Public Law 109-364; 10 U.S.C. 1482 note), the Secretary concerned 
shall provide, to the maximum extent practicable, for delivery of the 
remains by air to the commercial, general aviation, or military airport 
nearest to the place selected by the designee.''.
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