[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 55 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               VETERANS' CEMETERY PROTECTION ACT OF 1997

  (Mr. CALVERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, the 
gentleman from Hawaii [Mr. Abercrombie], in reintroducing the Veterans' 
Cemetery Protection Act. Whenever a young man or woman decides to enter 
the military, they do so voluntarily in order to protect our country 
and guard against the uncertainties of the world. Sometimes they make 
the ultimate sacrifice. Over 1 million Americans have died fighting in 
our country's wars. That is why it sickens me when I hear of hooligans 
desecrating our national cemeteries.
  In 1996, Riverside National Cemetery, the second largest cemetery in 
this country, next only to Arlington, fell prey to vandals who stole 
bronze markers from 128 graves. On April 19, vandals spray-painted 
racist and profane words on the cemetery walls of the National Memorial 
Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. Enough is enough. The Veterans' 
Cemetery Protection Act would stiffen criminal penalties for theft and 
malicious vandalism at national cemeteries. I wish to thank the 
gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] of the House Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, the gentleman from California [Mr. Bono], the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Royce], and many others who have come forward to 
support this bill.
  Being so close to Memorial Day, I invite my colleagues to become 
original cosponsors of this measure as a small gift to our Nation's 
veterans.

                          ____________________