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Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act

Public Law 109-228 · H.R. 5037 · 109th Congress · began in the House

Signed by George W. Bush (R) on May 29, 2006 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI-8)

Cosponsors (205): Rep. Steve Buyer,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act - Prohibits a demonstration on the property of a cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery Administration or on the property of Arlington National Cemetery unless the demonstration has been approved by the cemetery superintendent or the director of the property on which the cemetery is located. Prohibits, with respect to such a cemetery, a demonstration during the period beginning 60 minutes before and ending 60 minutes after a funeral, memorial service, or ceremony is held, any part of which demonstration: (1) takes place within 150 feet of a road, pathway, or other route of ingress to or egress from such cemetery property and includes, as part of such demonstration, any individual willfully making or assisting in the making of any noise or diversion that disturbs or tends to disturb the peace or good order of the funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; or (2) is within 300 feet of such cemetery and impedes the access to or egress from such cemetery.

Amends the federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for violations of such prohibitions.

Expresses the sense of Congress that each state should enact legislation to restrict demonstrations near any military funeral.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
  • Veterans' Affairs Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Related bills

3 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • S. 2452Related bill

    Dignity for Military Funerals Act of 2006

  • S. 2779Identical bill

    Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act

  • S. 4042 · became Public Law 109-464Related bill

    A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit disruptions of funerals of members or former members of the Armed Forces.

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 26 actions.

  1. May 29, 2006Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 109-228.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. May 25, 2006FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. May 24, 2006Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Buyer moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
  7. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5037.
  8. FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  9. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  10. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  11. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
  12. May 10, 2006CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate, read twice.
  13. May 9, 2006FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  14. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 3 (Roll no. 129).House roll call 129
  15. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  16. FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  17. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5037.
  18. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  19. FloorFloor · Mr. Buyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  20. May 1, 2006CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  21. Apr 24, 2006CommitteeCommittee · Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged.
  22. Apr 6, 2006CommitteeCommittee · Subcommittee Hearings Held.
  23. CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee
  24. Apr 5, 2006CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  25. Mar 29, 2006CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  26. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

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Amendments

1 amendment offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.

  • S.Amdt. 4187SenateSen. Larry CraigR-ID· offered May 24, 2006Agreed to

    In the nature of a substitute.

    May 24, 2006: Amendment SA 4187 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to
Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

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Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.