[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 82 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4109-H4111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LET OUR VETERANS REST IN PEACE ACT OF 2008
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 3480) to direct the United States Sentencing
Commission to assure appropriate enhancements of those involved in
receiving stolen property where that property consists of grave markers
of veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3480
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Let Our Veterans Rest in
Peace Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION.
The Congress finds and declares that--
(1) every cemetery should do all it can to protect each
grave marker, headstone, monument, or other object, intended
to permanently mark a grave;
(2) every citizen of the United States should be watchful
and mindful of desecrations of any gravesite and report any
such suspected behavior to local, State, or Federal law
enforcement authorities; and
(3) all citizens, including veterans, have earned the right
to rest in peace.
SEC. 3. DIRECTION TO THE SENTENCING COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--Pursuant to its authority under section
994 of title 28, United States Code, the United States
Sentencing Commission shall review and, if appropriate, amend
the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to
ensure the guidelines and policy statements provide adequate
sentencing enhancements for any offense involving the
desecration, theft, or trafficking in, a grave marker,
headstone, monument, or other object, intended to permanently
mark a veteran's grave.
(b) Commission Duties.--In carrying out this section, the
Sentencing Commission shall--
(1) ensure that the sentences, guidelines, and policy
statements relating to offenders convicted of these offenses
are appropriately severe and reasonably consistent with other
relevant directives and other Federal sentencing guidelines
and policy statements;
(2) make any necessary conforming changes to the Federal
sentencing guidelines; and
(3) assure that the guidelines adequately meet the purposes
of sentencing as set forth in section 3553(a)(2) of title 18,
United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
{time} 1600
General Leave
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
exclude extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, Memorial Day is a solemn time when we, as a Nation,
commemorate the ultimate sacrifice that our brave men and women in
uniform have made for us. Sadly, there are
[[Page H4110]]
those who, despicable as it may be, desecrate the grave sites of these
heroes. In cemeteries across our Nation, thieves have even looted the
metal parts of grave markers and sold them for scrap metal.
Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3480, the Let Our
Veterans Rest in Peace Act, which will protect and honor the final
resting places of our Nation's veterans. This bill will ensure that
penalties are in place so that these despicable thieves are
appropriately punished and would-be thieves are effectively deterred.
Specifically, the bill directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to
review its guidelines in order to provide a fitting sentence for all
offenses involving the desecration of, theft of, or trafficking in a
grave marker, monument, headstone, or other object that had permanently
marked a veteran's grave site.
I commend our colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Carney), for his leadership in this unfortunately necessary measure.
I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation,
particularly as we prepare for the solemn observance of Memorial Day.
These veterans have sacrificed greatly for us, and they deserve no less
than the highest honor and dignity for their final resting places.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3480, the Let Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act,
provides increased penalties for the desecration of the graves of
America's fallen soldiers.
It is fitting that we consider this bill today on the eve of Memorial
Day, a national holiday to honor those who died in defense of our
country. Sadly, last Memorial Day weekend in Washington State, the
graves of 97 war veterans were desecrated. American flags honoring
those men and women were burned or replaced with homemade swastika
flags.
Last year, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, over 700 markers were
stolen from the graves of American soldiers. These bronze plaques and
flag holders were placed at every veteran's grave as a memorial to
honor their service. In Texas, the grave of Purple Heart recipient
Lance Corporal Jeremy Burris was desecrated only 2 days after his
burial. Flower arrangements, personal notes, and flags decorating the
grave site were torn down and destroyed. All of this destruction to
steal and sell wire flower stands.
In Georgia, a bronze statue depicting a Marine's boots, rifle and
helmet was ripped out of the ground at the grave site of Corporal John
Stalvey. Other graves have also been vandalized to steal the bronze
plates traditionally placed on the grave sites of fallen service men
and women.
With the price of bronze on the rise, thieves are stealing these
markers to sell as scrap metal. The cost of brass markers has risen to
$28 each. Some counties cannot afford to replace the metal markers, so
they are being forced to turn to cheaper aluminum markers.
Whether these acts are motivated by greed or protest, destroying the
grave of any person, let alone those who have died fighting for our
country, is inexcusable, and these crimes must be met with swift and
strong punishment.
Mr. Speaker, the desecration of these graves not only disrespects the
men or women that rest there, it dishonors those serving in our Armed
Forces today. H.R. 3480, the Let Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act,
directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend its
sentencing guidelines to provide a sentencing enhancement for any
offense involving the desecration or theft of, or trafficking in, grave
markers of veterans.
Our Nation's fallen heroes fought and died for their country, for our
country, and their memories deserve better. I urge my colleagues to
support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), a member of the
Judiciary Committee.
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman from
Virginia.
It is of great necessity that we rise today to stand against this
horrible and devastating act, and that is, the desecration of our
veterans' or our fallen soldiers' graves. So I rise in support of H.R.
3480, the Let Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act of 2008, in honor and
tribute to Jeremy Burris of Texas, whose grave site was desecrated.
Might I also suggest that on the eve of the commemoration of Memorial
Day, when we acknowledge and honor and pay tribute to our fallen
soldiers, this is enormously important legislation. Because the
desecration of veterans' graves is becoming so pervasive, States have
acted by replacing the stolen markers with aluminum markers instead of
the brass and bronze markers they once used. How insulting, how low.
And so it is important that this Congress say to the American people,
and those who would do such dastardly deeds, we will accept it no more.
With the price of aluminum sharply on the rise, it is expected that
aluminum that is being utilized instead of the bronze may also be
stolen. So this important legislation is asking for enhanced penalties
to make a very strong statement that this is an intolerable act and an
unacceptable act.
As we mourn our most recent dead, those who have fallen in Iraq, how
much more can families tolerate to know that they buried their loved
ones, and then someone desecrated their graves?
It is important that this legislation pass today to recognize again
the great debt of gratitude and the great debt of appreciation that we
owe our fallen soldiers.
As the great British leader, Winston Churchill, famously stated,
``Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to
so few.''
We owe, many of us, all of us, so much to the few who have fallen on
behalf of this great Nation. And so I support, enthusiastically, the
legislation sponsored by our good friend, Representative Carney from
Pennsylvania, the Let Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act of 2008. Let this
be an important statement that we will not tolerate the continuation of
such desecration.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3480, the ``Let Our
Veterans Rest in Peace Act of 2008.''
This important piece of legislation is an effort to stop the theft of
Veterans' grave markers. Increasingly, these grave markers are being
sold to scrap yards and recycling centers as scrap metal. The bill
directs the Sentencing Commission to review and enhance the laws that
currently protect Veteran grave markers.
Because the desecration of veterans' graves is becoming so pervasive,
States have acted by replacing the stolen markers with aluminum markers
instead of the brass and bronze markers they once used. However, with
the price of aluminum sharply on the rise, it is expected that these
will soon be stolen also.
The May Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act of 2008 will bring attention
to this issue and increase penalties for this crime so that thieves no
longer consider robbing grave markers for scrap metal as easy money and
will think twice about desecrating the tombstone of a fallen war
veteran.
I firmly believe that we should celebrate our veterans after every
conflict, and I remain committed, as a Member of Congress, to ensuring
that we respect our fallen veterans. Veterans have kept their promise
to serve our Nation; they have willingly risked their lives to protect
the country we all love. We must now ensure that we keep our promises
to our veterans.
Currently, there are 25 million veterans in the United States. There
are more than 1,633,000 veterans living in Texas and more than 32,000
veterans living in my Congressional district alone. On this Veterans
Day, I hope we will all take the time to show appreciation to those who
have answered the call to duty. As the great British leader Winston
Churchill famously stated, ``Never in the field of human conflict was
so much owed by so many to so few.''
With the approval of legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11th
became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. Later that same
year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, himself a
decorated veteran of war, issued the first ``Veterans Day
Proclamation'' which stated in part: ``In order to insure proper and
widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans'
organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the
common purpose.'' It was with that endearing spirit that America
celebrated the first Veterans Day.
[[Page H4111]]
We must always remember the debt that we owe our fallen veterans that
have paid the ultimate sacrifice. From the four surviving World War I
veterans known to be living in the United States, to the over 300,000
veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom we
expect to see by the end of 2008. Our gratitude must continue to be
unwavering to our fallen soldiers and veterans.
In the words of President John F. Kennedy, ``As we express our
gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to
utter words, but to live by them.'' It is not simply enough to sing the
praises of our Nation's great veterans; I firmly believe that we must
demonstrate by our actions how proud we are of our American heroes.
I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I believe
it is necessary for the Nation to act now so that we all can pay
respect, tribute, and homage to the lives of the fallen armed services
veterans who have fought to keep America free and have fought to make
sure that all people and nations partake in the universal freedoms that
we find so important in this country. These individuals have given so
much and have paid us the ultimate sacrifice: the sacrifice of their
lives. The least that we can do, is ensure that these veterans rest
eternally in peace and that their grave markers are not stolen for the
profit of a few. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, again, I support this bill in its
entirety. It is a time that has come. I urge its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I hope that the House will pass
the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Salazar). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3480, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum
is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
____________________