The Stolen Valor Act has cleared both the Senate and House, and now awaits President Obama's signature to become law. The measure would make it a federal crime for someone to benefit financially from lying about having earned military medals.
Nevada Senator Dean Heller, one of the bill's authors, said in a press release:
“Our nation can never fully express our gratitude for all that our men and women in uniform have experienced on our behalf. Their acts of valor helped ensure the safety and security of our nation, and the honor of their awards should never be compromised."
As Home Post previously reported, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an earlier version of the law in 2012. The court argued lying about earning military medals was free speech protected by the First Amendment.
Nevada Congressman Joe Heck, who co-wrote the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 with Heller, said the revised law specifically address the court's concerns about freedom of speech. According to a press release from Heck's office:
Based on the Supreme Court’s ruling, Rep. Heck's legislation would be constitutional because it focuses on those who seek to benefit from misrepresentations of military service and awards.
