Washington, DC (May 15, 2006) – This week, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) joined his colleagues to pass a H.R. 5037, the “Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act” by a vote of 408-3.  Recently, there have been multiple reports of organized protests occurring throughout the U.S. at funerals for soldiers killed during deployment overseas, including Afghanistan and Iraq. 

“No matter what your stance on the war on terror, these protests can place undo hardship and burdens on families as they mourn the loss of a loved one,” said Hinojosa.  “The last thing family and friends should see while they are burying a loved one is a sign that reads ‘God hates you,’ or have a funeral procession subjected to verbal abuse.”

The legislation will:

• Ban all demonstrations 60 minutes prior to and after funerals taking place at Department of Veterans’ Affairs national cemeteries or the Department of the Army’s Arlington National Cemetery (the only areas the federal government maintains jurisdiction over);

• Impose a 500-foot restriction on demonstrations at national cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery;

• Allow for a Class A Misdemeanor for violations with penalties up to $100,000 in fines or up to one year in prison; and,

• Express the sense of Congress that all states should enact similar bans for states and private cemeteries, as well as funeral homes.

The following organizations have supported the “Respect for Fallen Heroes Act:”  Disabled Veterans of America, Gold Star Wives of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, American Veterans (AMVETS), Fleet Reserve Association, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and We Care America.