Stolen Valor Tops Vet Bills Before Congress

Stolen Valor Tops Vet Bills Before Congress
Sep 12, 2012
Stars and Stripes
by Leo Shane III

Veterans advocates are optimistic that Congress will have enough time left this year to pass several meaningful initiatives for their members, starting this week with a law to replace the Stolen Valor Act.

The original act, which mandated jail time for those who falsely claimed or wore military medals, was struck down in June by the Supreme Court, whose members argued it unfairly limited free speech.

The justices wrote that a more narrowly written bill might meet constitutional standards, and lawmakers from both parties promised to revisit the issue to protect the honor of military heroes.
v On Tuesday, the House was expected to approve a new version of the law, this one written by Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev. His bill would make it illegal to falsely claim military medals "with the intent to obtain money, property or anything of value."

The Senate isn't expected to vote on the bill until this fall, but the legislation is expected to be one of the few successes for a divided Congress that has agreed on little and put into law only a handful of measures.

Veterans groups hope it isn't the only victory. Officials from the Veterans of Foreign Wars have listed 22 additional bills that Congress "must pass" this session, to protect veterans' rights and benefits.
read more here