Washington, May 9, 2006 -  Representative John Carter (TX-31) today praised House passage of two bills he cosponsored that will support and honor our service men and women. The Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act, H.R. 5037, will prevent protestors from harassing mourners at the funerals of military men and women who die while serving their nation. H.R. 1499, theHeroes Earned Retirement Opportunities (HERO) Act allows members of the Armed Forces who earn combat pay to contribute into retirement savings plans.

“Honoring and protecting our service men and women is one of my top priorities in Congress. The dedicated members of our military and their families make incredible sacrifices to ensure the freedom of all Americans,” Congressman Carter said. “I was honored to meet face-to-face with many of our service men and women in Iraq last month, so I could once again thank them for their service.”

The Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act bans protestors from demonstrating at military funerals in national cemeteries for 60 minutes before a funeral and continuing until 60 minutes afterward. It also requires protestors to remain at least 500 feet from the funeral site and mourners, and includes a sense of Congress that all 50 states should adopt such legislation affecting the locations of military funerals.

Congressman Carter feels strongly about the need for this legislation, especially following the infuriating incident in March where protesters picketed the Temple funeral of a young female soldier from the 4^th Infantry Division. Pfc. Amy Duerksen was 19 years old and lost her life while bravely serving in Iraq.

“I am proud to join my colleagues today in passing this important legislation that will protect the burial services of our fallen service members. Our service men and women, who give their lives in service to the nation, deserve to be buried peacefully and with dignity,” Congressman Carter said. “Families should not have to listen to this hateful, vile, disrespectful speech when they are mourning the death and honoring the life of their loved one. Protesting at a funeral goes beyond the bounds of decency. What that group does to grieving families is nothing short of criminal.”

The HERO Act takes important steps to ensure that our military members serving in combat zones overseas are able to fully participate in saving through Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Currently, combat pay earned by a member of the Armed Forces is not eligible for contribution to retirement accounts. As deployment times have grown longer and longer, many soldiers now serve entire calendar years overseas, making their yearly compensation consist of hazard pay exclusively.

“The brave service men and women who are defending America overseas certainly deserve the same access to retirement savings that we receive. It simply is not fair to exclude our soldiers from fully participating in this important retirement investment opportunity because of a glitch in our tax code,” Congressman Carter said. “The legislation passed by the House today will take steps to correct this serious injustice.”