[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 159 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' MEMORIAL PRESERVATION AND RECOGNITION ACT OF 2001

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing 
legislation to help restore and preserve our nation's treasured 
veterans' memorials.
  The freedom we enjoy in the United States has not just been given to 
us. Men and women have made great sacrifices, some with their lives, to 
protect our way of life. We have erected memorials to honor these 
soldiers, sailors, and aviators and their valiant deeds. Unfortunately 
many of these expressions of our gratitude don't receive the care they 
deserve. These memorials may not be as large as those on the National 
Mall or Arlington National Cemetery but they are just as important. My 
bill would provide grants to rehabilitate those memorials that have 
fallen into disrepair. The grants would be distributed from a Veterans' 
Memorial Restoration Fund that would be administered by the Secretary 
of Veterans' Affairs. With the additional resources provided by this 
fund we would be able to revive those veterans' memorials on public 
lands to their original splendor.
  People should know the hallowed ground where departed veterans have 
been laid to rest. These are the most important memorials, where 
families go to reflect on the lives of their loved ones who have passed 
on. This bill would make veterans' cemeteries eligible for supplemental 
guide signs placed on any federally aided highway.
  Also, this bill would make sure that people who willfully desecrate a 
veterans' memorial on public land could be fined or put in jail, and 
they would be subject to civil penalties to cover the cost of repairing 
damages.
  Mr. Speaker, as we honor America's men and women in uniform now 
fighting in Afghanistan to protect our freedom we cannot forget those 
who have protected us before. We can do this by making sure memorials 
to their memory do not fall into disrepair. This bill will help to 
ensure that our veterans are not forgotten.
  For the benefit of my colleagues I have attached a fact sheet that 
outlines the bill.

  Fact Sheet: ``Veterans' Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act''


                ``Veterans' Memorial Restoration Fund''

       Creates a fund to cover the costs associated with the 
     repairs or restoration of veterans' memorials. These funds 
     are also to cover the costs of continued maintenance and 
     upkeep of veterans' memorials.
       The funds made available in this account are to be in 
     addition to other monies designated by the Treasury to be 
     used for repair and maintenance of veterans' memorials.
       The funds would be distributed to individuals or entities 
     that are responsible for the upkeep of a veterans' memorial 
     through Federal grants. (The Secretary of Veterans' Affairs 
     would determine the criteria for how the grants are to be 
     awarded.)
       (There is not a specified amount of money designated for 
     the fund. The fund would be augmented by donations. Also, 
     money collected as a civil penalty from willful damage to 
     memorials would go into the fund.)


                   Desecration of veterans' memorials

       Persons who willfully damage a veterans' memorial on public 
     property can be imprisoned up to 10 years and fined (the fine 
     amount is not defined in this legislation). If the damage 
     does not exceed $1000 then the defendant cannot be imprisoned 
     for more than one year.
       Whoever willfully damages a memorial will be subject to 
     civil penalties in an amount equal to the cost of repairing 
     the damage.


             Highway Signs Relating to Veterans Cemeteries

       A veterans cemetery will be eligible for a supplemental 
     guide sign placed on any highway that receives Federal 
     monies.

     

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