Honor Our Fallen Heroes With Dignity Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-3506
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7]
Introduced: 2013-11-15
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals

Military personnel and dependents

Virginia
Latest action: action_date: 2014-01-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-11-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Honor Our Fallen Heroes With Dignity Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to permit visitors to leave on any gravesite or government-furnished marker located in section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery any item that: (1) does not present a safety or health concern, (2) is not permanently affixed to such marker, and (3) does not interfere with the normal operations and maintenance procedures of the Cemetery.</p> <p>Requires the History Office of Arlington National Cemetery: (1) to collect, catalog, and store any other items left on a gravesite, headstone, or marker in section 60; and (2) at the end of each calendar month, to collect, catalog, and store all items left on gravesites, headstones, and government-furnished markers.</p> <BR> <UL> </UL> <BR>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3506 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 15, 2013 Mr. McDermott introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs , and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of the Army to permit visitors to leave appropriate items on gravesites and markers located in section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Honor Our Fallen Heroes With Dignity Act of 2013 . 2. Treatment of items placed at gravesites in section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery (a) In general Chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 2415. Treatment of items placed at gravesites in section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery (a) In general The Secretary of the Army shall permit visitors to leave appropriate items on any gravesite or Government-furnished marker located in section 60. (b) Appropriate items For purposes of this section an appropriate item is any item that— (1) does not present a safety or health concern, as determined by the Secretary of the Army; (2) is not permanently affixed to a Government-furnished marker; and (3) does not interfere with the normal operations and maintenance procedures of Arlington National Cemetery. (c) Collection of items (1) In the case of any item left on a gravesite, headstone, or marker in section 60 that is determined not to be an appropriate item by reason of paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (b), the History Office of Arlington National Cemetery shall collect, catalog, and store the item. (2) At the end of each calendar month, the History Office shall collect all items left on gravesites and headstones and markers furnished under section 2306 of this title and catalog and store such items. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term section 60 means section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. (2) The term Government-furnished marker means a headstone or marker furnished under section 2306 of this title. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 2415. Treatment of items placed at gravesites in section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. .