[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 55 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2097-H2098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN SUPPORT OF THE VETERAN'S CEMETERY PROTECTION ACT

  (Mr. ABERCROMBIE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise as the 
cosponsor with the gentleman from California [Mr. Calvert] today of the 
bill which he just enumerated. I think many people in the United States 
and even around the world according to the administrators at Punch Bowl 
Cemetery have recognized what has taken place. This is beyond 
vandalism. That is why this bill is coming forward.
  I am also grateful to the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] and 
everyone else who has helped us to recognize what needs to be done 
here. The present legal situation in the United States does not cover 
this kind of desecration. This is beyond vandalism. I think there is 
perhaps a demented mentality at work here.
  We cannot reward it by reacting in a way that is beyond what the bill 
calls for. We will look into matters of security. We will look into 
other legal matters associated with it. But this action must be taken 
in order to protect monuments, memorials, cemeteries all across the 
Nation and in fact probably all across the world. I thank the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Calvert]. I thank the gentleman from Arizona

[[Page H2098]]

[Mr. Stump]. I thank the Democratic Members who are truly making this a 
bipartisan effort.

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