IV 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 492 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 12, 2011 Mrs. Ellmers submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 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

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.