(1) The greatness of America is measured in 
many ways but nowhere is it better reflected than in 
the costs paid by the men and women who volun-
tarily assumed the risk of defending the freedoms 
guaranteed by the Constitution and who, without re-
luctance or mental reservation, made the supreme 
sacrifice for their country. 
(2) It is altogether fitting and proper for the 
friends and families of those fallen in battle to be 
able to mourn their loss in peace and take comfort 
and pride in the consolation that comes from the 
certain knowledge that they laid so costly a sacrifice 
on the altar of freedom. 
(3) That to secure this temporary but hallowed 
moment of peace, reflection, and healing, it is appro-
priate to place reasonable restrictions on those indi-
viduals and groups who seek to use the occasion of 
a funeral, burial, or memorial service of a veteran to 
stage a public demonstration intended to turn a pri-
vate gathering of private persons into a public spec-
tacle for the unconscionable purpose of attracting 
public attention and gratuitously inflicting unneces-
sary emotional pain on the deceased veteran’s fami-
lies and friends. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:58 Dec 24, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3755.IH
H3755
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(4) Funerals, memorial services, and bereave-
ment ceremonies are special events warranting spe-
cial respect for the deceased and due regard for the 
emotional well-being of the bereaved whose memories 
of the final moments before their loved one is laid 
to rest may be permanently stained were the occa-
sion allowed to be exploited by others for the pur-
pose of attracting public attention by the intentional 
infliction of emotional distress on the loved ones of 
the deceased. 
(5) The First Amendment that veterans risked 
their lives to defend and preserve is broad and 
strong enough to protect vigorous and robust public 
debate on public issues and generous enough to ac-
commodate the natural desire and need of relatives 
and loved ones to be free to mourn their loss in 
peace. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON DEMONSTRATIONS WHERE FU-
NERALS, MEMORIAL SERVICES, AND CERE-
MONIES FOR VETERANS ARE HELD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2413 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:58 Dec 24, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3755.IH
H3755
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘§ 2413. Prohibition on demonstrations where a fu-
neral, memorial service, or other bereave-
ment ceremony for a veteran is held 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—No person may carry out— 
‘‘(1) a demonstration on the property where a 
funeral for a veteran is held unless the demonstra-
tion has been approved by the cemetery super-
intendent or the owner of the property on which the 
funeral is held; or 
‘‘(2) with respect to such a cemetery or other 
property on which a funeral is held, a demonstration 
during the period beginning 60 minutes before and 
ending 60 minutes after such funeral, any part of 
which demonstration— 
‘‘(A)(i) takes place within 150 feet of a 
road, pathway, or other route of ingress to or 
egress from such cemetery or other property; 
and 
‘‘(ii) includes, as part of such demonstra-
tion, any individual willfully making or assisting 
in the making of any noise or diversion that 
disturbs or tends to disturb the peace or good 
order of the funeral; or 
‘‘(B) is within 1,000 feet of such cemetery 
or other property and impedes the access to or 
egress from such cemetery or other property, 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:58 Dec 24, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3755.IH
H3755
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
if there is visible, at each place that is at the applicable 
distance specified in this sentence from such cemetery or 
other property, a sign which clearly and conspicuously 
states that a funeral will be held on such cemetery or other 
property and so states the time interval during which the 
funeral will be held. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘demonstration’ includes the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Any picketing or similar conduct. 
‘‘(B) Any oration, speech, use of sound 
amplification equipment or device, or similar 
conduct that is not part of a funeral. 
‘‘(C) The display of any placard, banner, 
flag, or similar device, unless such a display is 
part of a funeral. 
‘‘(D) The distribution of any handbill, 
pamphlet, leaflet, or other written or printed 
matter other than a program distributed as 
part of a funeral. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘funeral’ includes a memorial 
service or any other bereavement ceremony honoring 
a veteran.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by striking 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:58 Dec 24, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3755.IH
H3755
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
the item relating to section 2413 and inserting the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘2413. Prohibition on demonstrations where a funeral, memorial service, or 
other bereavement ceremony for a veteran is held.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:58 Dec 24, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3755.IH
H3755
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS