I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2076
To further the protection and recognition of veterans’ memorials, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to provide for grants to repair veterans 
memorials, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 13, 2003
Mr. JOHN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary 
and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To further the protection and recognition of veterans’ memo-
rials, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide 
for grants to repair veterans memorials, and for other 
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans’ Memorial 
Preservation and Recognition Act of 2003’’.
SEC. 2. CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR DESTRUCTION OF VET-
ERANS’ MEMORIALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 65 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 1369. Destruction of veterans’ memorials 
‘‘(a) Whoever, in a circumstance described in sub-
section (b), willfully injures or destroys, or attempts to in-
jure or destroy, any structure, plaque, statue, or other 
monument on public property commemorating the service 
of any person or persons in the armed forces of the United 
States shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more 
than 10 years, or both. 
‘‘(b) A circumstance described in this subsection is 
that—
‘‘(1) in committing the offense described in sub-
section (a), the defendant travels or causes another 
to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or uses 
the mail or an instrumentality of interstate or for-
eign commerce; or 
‘‘(2) the structure, plaque, statue, or other 
monument described in subsection (a) is located on 
property owned by, or under the jurisdiction of, the 
Federal Government.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 65 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘1369. Destruction of veterans’ memorials.’’.
SEC. 3. HIGHWAY SIGNS RELATING TO VETERANS CEME-
TERIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the terms of any 
agreement entered into by the Secretary of Transportation 
and a State under section 109(d) or 402(a) of title 23, 
United States Code, a veterans cemetery shall be treated 
as a site for which a supplemental guide sign may be 
placed on any Federal-aid highway. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (a) shall apply to an 
agreement entered into before, on, or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO REPAIR VETERANS MEMORIALS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.—Chapter 
24 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 2412. Grants to repair memorials 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.—Sub-
ject to the succeeding provisions of this section, the Sec-
retary may make grants to a State or a qualified organiza-
tion for the purpose of repairing or restoring a covered 
memorial.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—A grant under this section may 
be made only upon submission of an application to the 
Secretary in such form and manner, and containing such 
information, as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—(1) The amount of a 
grant under this section may not exceed 50 percent of the 
cost of the repair or restoration of the covered memorial, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) The recipient of the grant shall contribute the 
excess of the aggregate costs of the repair of the covered 
memorial over the grant. 
‘‘(3) If a recipient of a grant under this section uses 
any part of the funds provided through such grant for a 
purpose other than that for which the grant was made, 
the United States shall be entitled to recover from such 
recipient the total of all grants made under this section 
to such recipient in connection with the repair or restora-
tion of the covered memorial. 
‘‘(d) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—Sums received pursu-
ant to a grant in this section shall be used for the sole 
purpose of repairing or restoring a covered memorial. 
‘‘(e) STANDARDS.—A repair or restoration of a cov-
ered memorial under a grant under this section shall con-
form to such standards and guidelines as the Secretary 
may by regulation prescribe.
‘‘(f) ADDITIONAL TERMS
AND CONDITIONS.—The 
Secretary may by regulation prescribe such additional 
terms and conditions for grants under this section as the 
Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘qualified organization’ means 
any organization described in section 5902(a) of this 
title. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘covered memorial’ means a me-
morial or monument that the Secretary determines 
commemorates the service in the Armed Forces of 
an individual, or group of individuals, or a particular 
military event, but does not include any memorial or 
monument under the administrative jurisdiction of 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—(1) 
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary for fiscal year 2004 and for each succeeding 
fiscal year through fiscal year 2008 for the purpose of 
making grants under subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) Sums appropriated under paragraph (1) of this 
section shall remain available until expended. If all funds 
from a grant under this section have not been utilized by 
a recipient for the purpose for which the grant was made 
within three years after such grant is made, the United
States shall be entitled to recover any such unused grant 
funds from such recipient.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 24 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘2412. Grants to repair memorials.’’.
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