Stolen Valor Act of 2013
Pub. L.113–12 (text) (PDF) | |
Statutes at Large | 127 Stat. 448 |
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Codification | |
Titles amended | 18 |
U.S.C. sections amended | 18 U.S.C. § 704: |
Legislative history | |
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The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 (
The law is a revised version of a previous statute with roughly the same name that had been struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States in United States v. Alvarez (2012). In that case, the Supreme Court ruled the arrest and prosecution of a citizen for wearing and claiming to have received unearned military awards, who did so without criminal intent, under the 2005 law violates their constitutional right to freedom of speech.
Provisions of the bill
- This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, a public domain source.[1]
The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both for an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of:
- Medal of Honor
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Navy Cross
- Air Force Cross
- Silver Star
- Bronze Star
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Combat Action Badge
- Combat Medical Badge
- Combat Action Medal
- Or any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law.
Congressional Budget Office report
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Congressional Budget Office.[2]
H.R. 258 makes changes to the current federal offenses relating to fraudulent claims about military service. As a result, the government might be able to pursue cases that it otherwise would not be able to prosecute. CBO expects that H.R. 258 would apply to a relatively small number of additional offenders, however, so any increase in costs for law enforcement, court proceedings, or prison operations would not be significant. Any such costs would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Because those prosecuted and convicted under H.R. 258 could be subject to civil and criminal fines, the federal government might collect additional fines if the legislation is enacted. Civil and criminal fines are recorded as revenues. Criminal fines are deposited in the Crime Victims Fund and later spent. CBO expects that any additional revenues and direct spending would not be significant because relatively few cases would likely be affected[needs update].
Procedural history
House
The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 H.R. 258 was introduced by
Senate
The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 was received in the United States Senate on May 21, 2013.[3] It passed the Senate by unanimous consent on May 22, 2013.
Presidential signature
The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on June 3, 2013.[3]
Government reactions to Stolen Valor Act legal challenges
Justice Anthony Kennedy's opinion in
See also
- List of bills in the 113th United States Congress
- List of acts of the 113th United States Congress
- Awards and decorations of the United States military
- Mitchell Paige, Medal of Honor recipient who later tracked imposters
- Stolen Valor, book by B. G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley chronicling phony Vietnam veterans.
- Don Shipley, retired Navy SEAL who exposes fraudulent claims of military service
Notes/References
- ^ "H.R. 258 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ^ "CBO H.R. 258". Congressional Budget Office. March 19, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "H.R. 258 – All Actions". United States Congress. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ^ "H.R. 258 – Committees". United States Congress. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ^ "United States v. Alvarez, 567 U.S. 709 (2012)".
- ^ "DOD unveils 'Stolen Valor' database". July 25, 2012.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/38px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)
- Library of Congress – Thomas H.R. 258
- beta.congress.gov H.R. 258
- GovTrack.us H.R. 258
- OpenCongress.org H.R. 258
- WashingtonWatch.com H.R. 258
- House Republicans' report on H.R. 258
- Congressional Budget Office's report on H.R. 258
This article incorporates