IIB 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 290 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 26, 2012 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To amend title 36, United States Code, to ensure that memorials commemorating the service of the United States Armed Forces may contain religious symbols, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the War Memorial Protection Act.

2.

Inclusion of religious symbols as part of military memorials

(a)

Authority

Chapter 21 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

2115.

Inclusion of religious symbols as part of military memorials

(a)

Inclusion of religious symbols authorized

To recognize the religious background of members of the United States Armed Forces, religious symbols may be included as part of— (1)a military memorial that is established or acquired by the United States Government; or (2)a military memorial that is not established by the United States Government, but for which the American Battle Monuments Commission cooperated in the establishment of the memorial. (b)

Military memorial defined

In this section, the term military memorial means a memorial or monument commemorating the service of the United States Armed Forces. The term includes works of architecture and art described in section 2105(b) of this title.

. (b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 2115. Inclusion of religious symbols as part of military memorials. .

Passed the House of Representatives January 24, 2012. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.