OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act

Floor Speech

Date: Dec. 11, 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans

Mr. STUTZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1471, the Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act. I thank my Indiana colleagues, Senator Dan Coats and Congresswoman Susan Brooks, for their hard work.

The namesake of this bill is Alicia Dawn Koehl. She was the wife of Fort Wayne native Paul Koehl from my district and the mother of two children. She was also the daughter-in-law of Frank and Carol Koehl.

Last year, Alicia was tragically murdered, and after her killer, an Army veteran, committed suicide, he was buried in a national cemetery with military honors despite laws prohibiting such distinction.

This bill provides the Department of Veterans Affairs the authority to right such wrongs, ensuring our national cemeteries are reserved for our country's most deserving heroes.

Mr. Speaker, my sympathies go out to the family and friends of Ms. Koehl. It is impossible for any of us here today to fully grasp the hardship they have needlessly endured.

I respectfully ask my colleagues to support this legislation.


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