[June 30, 2011] Snowe's SERVE Act Wins Approval of Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Tweet Jun 30, 2011 (Congressional Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation authored by U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) to protect military funerals from outside disruptions was approved unanimously by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee today as part of a broader package of veterans-related bills. Snowe introduced the Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans (SERVE) Act (S.815) in April to preserve the dignity of military funerals from those who wish to cause disruptions. The legislation clearly defines the time and place for protests at military funerals and it provides clear remedies and increased penalties when conduct at military funeral services is not protected by the First Amendment. Snowe thanked Zach Parker, a high school senior from Frankfort who has supported this legislation with grassroots activism and an inspiring commitment to preventing disruptions at military funerals. Senator Snowe said: "Those who fight and die in the service of our country deserve our highest respect, and I commend the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee for giving this issue its due consideration. Protests outside the funerals and burials of our fallen soldiers are repugnant and inappropriate - and they undermine the respect military families and loved ones undeniably deserve. Our nation has a vested interest in respecting those who serve in our armed forces and this bill achieves that while respecting the intent of the First Amendment to our Constitution. I look forward to the full Senate's consideration of this vital legislation to protect the solemn moments of military funerals from outside disruption." BACKGROUND: The SERVE Act would increase the quiet time before and after military funeral services from 60 minutes to 120 minutes; increase from 150 feet to 300 feet the buffer zone around a military funeral service and increase from 300 feet to 500 feet the buffer around access routes to a funeral service area; and increase criminal and civil penalties on violators. There are now 34 bipartisan cosponsors of this legislation. Additionally, to date, 35 organizations have endorsed the SERVE Act, including the Military Coalition, Military Families United, Gold Star Wives of America, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, the Marine Corps League, the Military Officers Association of America, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Non Commissioned Officers Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Representatives Charlie Bass (R-New Hampshire) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah) introduced an identical version of the SERVE Act in the House on Friday, April 15, 2011. HR 1591 was referred to three House committees: Judiciary, Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs. Read this original document at: http://snowe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=6bd8201d-d626-4301-a11a-710417a39580&ContentType_id=ae7a6475-a01f-4da5-aa94-0a98973de620&Group_id=2643ccf9-0d03-4d09-9082-3807031cb84a [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]