3-15-13
Stolen Valor Legislation Advances
The House Judiciary
Committee this week approved the “Stolen
Valor Act” (H.R. 258), sponsored by Rep. Joe Heck
(Nev.). The
FRA-supported measure seeks to protect the integrity of military awards
by making it a crime to knowingly benefit from making fraudulent claims
about military decorations.
In June of 2012, the U.S.
Supreme Court overturned (United
Statesv Alvarez) a similar law
on the grounds that it infringed on constitutionally-protected free
speech. FRA supported the earlier legislation and signed on to a Friend
of the Court (Amicus) brief when the case was considered by the high
court. The current legislation should withstand constitutional scrutiny
because it more narrowly focuses on those who seek to benefit from
misrepresentation of military service – not the lie itself. The
legislation now moves to the House floor for further
consideration.
Members
are urged to use the Action Center to ask their representative to vote
for this legislation.
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