[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 492 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 492

Expressing the firm belief that disposing of any part of the remains of 
 a deceased member of the Armed Forces as medical waste is repugnant, 
             disrespectful and should not to be tolerated.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 12, 2011

Mrs. Ellmers submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

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                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the firm belief that disposing of any part of the remains of 
 a deceased member of the Armed Forces as medical waste is repugnant, 
             disrespectful and should not to be tolerated.

Whereas members of the United States Armed Forces who serve their country and 
        fall in battle are heroes who have paid the ultimate price to preserve 
        the freedom of their fellow Americans;
Whereas the remains of deceased members of the Armed Forces have been found in a 
        landfill as a result of the remains being included with medical waste;
Whereas military policies and regulations do not authorize the landfill disposal 
        of the remains of deceased members of the Armed Forces;
Whereas officials of the Department of Defense and the Department of the Air 
        Force have said that they would have to search through records of more 
        than 6,300 deceased members of the Armed Forces to discover whose 
        remains have passed through the mortuary connected with the remains that 
        were handled in this shameful and negligent manner; and
Whereas a Federal investigation uncovered gross mismanagement at the mortuary in 
        question: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives states its firm belief 
that--
            (1) disposing of any part of the remains of a deceased 
        member of the Armed Forces as medical waste is repugnant, 
        disrespectful and should not to be tolerated;
            (2) this practice should cease and desist and all branches 
        of the Armed Forces should take steps to prevent any recurrence 
        of repugnant acts such as these, including cessation of any 
        further association with the mortuary in question; and
            (3) information should be provided promptly, respectfully, 
        and with contrition to any family member of a deceased member 
        of the Armed Forces who inquires after the manner of treatment 
        of remains left in the care of the military or otherwise.
                                 <all>