115 STAT. 2466 PUBLIC LAW 107–136—JAN. 24, 2002

Public Law 107–136

107th Congress

An Act

To name the national cemetery in Saratoga, New York, as the Gerald B.H. Solomon

Saratoga National Cemetery, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) Gerald Brooks Hunt ‘‘Jerry’’ Solomon of Glens Falls,

New York, served in the House of Representatives for 10 terms,

from January 3, 1979, to January 3, 1999, and during that

service gained a reputation for being outspoken and tenacious

in presenting his views on a wide range of issues.

(2) Congressman Solomon was born in Okeechobee, Florida,

and grew up there during the Great Depression before moving

to New York in 1945.

(3) Congressman Solomon enlisted in the United States

Marine Corps at the onset of the Korean War and served

in the Marine Corps for 81⁄2 years on active and reserve duty.

(4) Before being elected to Congress in 1978, Congressman

Solomon was a businessman in Glens Falls, New York.

(5) During his 20-year congressional career, Congressman

Solomon served as the ranking Republican on the Committee

on Veterans’ Affairs, where he was recognized by the veterans

community as one of its strongest advocates. Among his other

accomplishments for veterans, Congressman Solomon spearheaded the effort to create the Cabinet-level Department of

Veterans Affairs and successfully led a 15-year drive to establish the Saratoga National Cemetery in Saratoga, New York,

where he is now interred.

(6) Congressman Solomon was also recognized for his

efforts to promote pride, patriotism, and volunteerism, and

when the Supreme Court ruled that laws prohibiting the

burning of the United States flag were unconstitutional, Congressman Solomon was given the assignment to pass a constitutional amendment to prohibit desecration of the flag. The Solomon Amendment passed overwhelmingly in the House, but

failed by one vote in the Senate.

(7) As chairman of the Committee on Rules of the House

of Representatives, Congressman Solomon revamped the rules

under which the House operates, abolishing proxy voting,

opening all meetings to the media and the public, and making

Congress subject to the same laws that the American people

live under.

Jan. 24, 2002

[H.R. 3392]

PUBLIC LAW 107–136—JAN. 24, 2002 115 STAT. 2467

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3392:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 147 (2001):

Dec. 4, considered and passed House.

Dec. 20, considered and passed Senate.

Æ

(8) During his congressional career, Congressman Solomon

was the recipient of dozens of major awards from many national

veterans organizations, including the coveted ‘‘Iron Mike

Award’’, presented to him by the Marine Corps and Marine

Corps League, and the Distinguished Citizen Award, presented

to him by the National Congressional Medal of Honor Society

for his legislative successes on behalf of the United States

military and veterans issues.

SEC. 2. NAME OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY IN SARATOGA, NEW YORK.

(a) NAME.—The national cemetery located in Saratoga, New

York, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known

and designated as the ‘‘Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National

Cemetery’’. Any reference to such national cemetery in any law,

regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United

States shall be considered to be a reference to the ‘‘Gerald B.H.

Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery’’. (b) MEMORIAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide

for the placement in the national cemetery referred to in subsection

(a) of a suitable memorial to honor the memory of Gerald B.H.

Solomon and his service to the United States.

Approved January 24, 2002.