I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1497 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 12, 2011 Mr. Rogers of Michigan (for himself and Mr. LoBiondo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 direct the Secretary of Defense to take whatever steps may be necessary to exhume and transfer the remains of certain deceased members of the Armed Forces buried in Tripoli, Libya, and for other purposes.

1.

Exhumation and transfer of remains of deceased members of the Armed Forces buried in Tripoli, Libya

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Defense shall take whatever steps may be necessary to— (1)exhume the remains of any deceased members of the Armed Forces of the United States buried at a burial site described in subsection (b); (2)transfer such remains to an appropriate forensics laboratory to be identified; (3)in the case of any remains that are identified, transport the remains to a veterans cemetery located in proximity, as determined by the Secretary, to the closest living family member of the deceased individual or at another cemetery as determined by the Secretary; (4)for any member of the Armed Forces whose remains are identified, provide a military funeral and burial; and (5)in the case of any remains that are unable to be identified, transport the remains to Arlington National Cemetery for interment at the Tomb of the Unknowns. (b)

Burial sites described

The burial sites described in this subsection are the following: (1)The mass burial site containing the remains of five United States sailors located in Protestant Cemetery in Tripoli, Libya. (2)The mass burial site containing the remains of eight United States sailors located near the walls of the Tripoli Castle in Tripoli, Libya.