S 2690
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2690
To authorize the placement in Arlington National Cemetery of
an American Braille tactile flag in Arlington National Cemetery honoring
blind members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and other Americans.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 4, 2008
Mr. BROWNBACK introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To authorize the placement in Arlington National Cemetery of
an American Braille tactile flag in Arlington National Cemetery honoring
blind members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and other Americans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `American Braille Flag Memorial Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) There are more than 175,000 blind veterans.
(2) The Department of Defense estimates that 16 percent of the members
of the Armed Forces who have been injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom have severe vision loss as a result
of their injuries.
(3) The American Braille tactile flag was created by the Kansas Braille
Transcription Institute in Wichita, Kansas, to allow blind Americans
and blind veterans to experience the American flag.
(4) Arlington National Cemetery, visited by approximately 4,000,0000
people annually, is a national place of remembrance and honor for
the Nation's veterans.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF PLACEMENT OF AN AMERICAN BRAILLE TACTILE
FLAG IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY HONORING BLIND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES, VETERANS, AND OTHER AMERICANS.
(a) In General- The Secretary of the Army is authorized to place in
Arlington National Cemetery an American Braille tactile flag in Arlington
National Cemetery honoring blind members of the Armed Forces, veterans,
and other Americans.
(b) Approval of Design and Site- The Secretary of the Army shall have
exclusive authority to approve an appropriate design and site within
Arlington National Cemetery for the memorial authorized under subsection
(a).
END
