I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 540 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 8, 2011 Mr. Filner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to honor veterans of the Armed Forces who died after their service in the Vietnam War, but whose deaths were a direct result of their service in the Vietnam War.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act.

2.

Medal to honor veterans of the Armed Forces who died as a result of their service in the Vietnam War

(a)

Medal Authorized

There is established a medal, to be known as the Jesus (Chuchi) Salgado Medal, to be issued by the Secretary of Defense to honor each veteran of the Armed Forces— (1)who served in the Vietnam War; (2)who died after serving in the war, but whose death is determined by the Secretary of Defense to be a direct result of that service; and (3)whose name is not eligible for placement on the memorial wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (as defined in section 5(f) of Public Law 96–297 (16 U.S.C. 431 note), as added by section 1 of Public Law 106–214 (114 Stat. 336)). (b)

Application and Design

The Secretary of Defense shall issue the Jesus (Chuchi) Salgado Medal upon receipt of an application for the medal, submitted in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary prescribes. The medal shall be of an appropriate design approved by the Secretary. (c)

Issuance to Representative of Deceased

The Jesus (Chuchi) Salgado Medal shall be issued to the next-of-kin or representative of a veteran described in subsection (a), as designated by the Secretary of Defense. (d)

Assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available to the Secretary of Defense such records, and otherwise provide such assistance, as the Secretary of Defense may require for purposes of carrying out this section.