[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 151 (Monday, November 3, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE VETERANS' CEMETERY PROTECTION ACT OF 1997

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, next week, November 11, our Nation will 
observe Veterans Day. Commemorative services will be held throughout 
the Nation on that day. I expect services will be held at Arlington 
Cemetery and other national cemeteries, where thousands of war dead are 
buried.
  As I mentioned in a statement last May, prior to Memorial Day, Mr. 
President, not all activities at our national cemeteries have honored 
our Nation's veterans. There have been, unfortunately, instances of 
vandalism and theft at our national cemeteries. While many of these 
incidents are minor, many attacks on national cemeteries are serious. 
The Department of Justice reports that between January 1, 1995, and May 
31, 1997, there were 21 reports of vandalism or crime at national 
cemeteries, where the estimated damage was over $1,000. The total loss 
to our national cemeteries from these incidents is more than $98,000. 
In addition, more than 56 incidents were reported, with damage less 
than $1,000, during that same time period. These incidents caused 
another $15,000 in losses to the Government.
  The harm resulting from attacks on our national cemeteries, however, 
is more than economic loss. Such criminal activity is an assault on the 
honor of our veterans, particularly those who made the supreme 
sacrifice in defense of our Nation. It is an attack on the heritage and 
values for which our veterans fought. Such conduct is unconscionable 
and deserves a strong response.
  The time has come to demand a stop to this type of insulting behavior 
and punish it when it occurs. That is why I introduced S. 813, the 
Veterans' Cemetery Protection Act of 1997. This bill imposes criminal 
penalties for vandalism and theft at national cemeteries operated by 
the VA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Interior.
  Specifically, this bill authorizes the U.S. Sentencing Commission to 
review and amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide an 
appropriate sentencing enhancement for any offense against the property 
of a national cemetery.
  I am delighted that Senators McCain, Inhofe, Inouye, D'Amato, and 
Sessions have joined as cosponsors. I thank all Senators for their 
support on final passage. I particularly appreciate the support from 
the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Senate Judiciary 
Committee, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Sentencing 
Commission. I look forward to passage of this measure by the other 
body, so this bill can be on the President's desk by Veterans Day.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I be permitted 
to speak for 12 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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