[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               VETERANS' CEMETERY PROTECTION ACT OF 1997

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of calendar No. 224, S. 813.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 813) to amend chapter 91 of title 18, United 
     States Code, to provide criminal penalties for theft and 
     willful vandalism at national cemeteries.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
bill, which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary, with 
an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Cemetery 
     Protection Act of 1997''.

     SEC. 2 SENTENCING FOR OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY AT NATIONAL 
                   CEMETERIES.

       (a) In General.--Pursuant to its authority under section 
     994 of title 28, United States Code, the United States 
     Sentencing Commission shall review and amend the Federal 
     sentencing guidelines to provide a sentencing enhancement of 
     not less than 2 levels for any offense against the property 
     of a national cemetery.
       (b) Commission Duties.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
     Sentencing Commission shall ensure that the sentences, 
     guidelines, and policy statements for offenders convicted of 
     an offense described in that subsection are--
       (1) appropriately severe; and
       (2) reasonably consistent with other relevant directives 
     and with other Federal sentencing guidelines.
       (c) Definition of National Cemetery.--In this section, the 
     term ``national cemetery'' means a cemetery--
       (1) in the National Cemetery System established under 
     section 2400 of title 38, United States Code; or
       (2) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army, 
     the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, or 
     the Secretary of the Interior.

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee substitute be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee substitute was agreed to.
  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill 
appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered.
  The bill (S. 813), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

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