[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4913 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4913

       To require designated military command responsibility and 
   accountability for the care, handling, and transportation of the 
 remains of a deceased member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine 
 Corps who died overseas, from the place of death, through the defense 
mortuary system, until the remains are accepted by the member's next of 
   kin, in order to ensure that the deceased member is treated with 
                      dignity, honor, and respect.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 26, 2012

  Mr. Coffman of Colorado (for himself and Mr. Cooper) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To require designated military command responsibility and 
   accountability for the care, handling, and transportation of the 
 remains of a deceased member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine 
 Corps who died overseas, from the place of death, through the defense 
mortuary system, until the remains are accepted by the member's next of 
   kin, in order to ensure that the deceased member is treated with 
                      dignity, honor, and respect.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONTINUOUS MILITARY CHAIN OF CUSTODY OVER TREATMENT AND 
              TRANSPORTATION OF REMAINS OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE 
              ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINE CORPS WHO DIED 
              OVERSEAS.

    Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Defense shall take such steps as may be necessary to 
ensure that there is continuous, designated military command 
responsibility and accountability for the care, handling, and 
transportation of the remains of each deceased member of the Army, 
Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps who died overseas, beginning with the 
initial recovery of the remains, through the defense mortuary system, 
until the interment of the remains or the remains are otherwise 
accepted by the person designated as provided by section 1482(c) of 
title 10, United States Code, to direct disposition of the remains.
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