CSU– Pueblo student pens foundation of Federal legislation on military awards fraud
 
PHOTO CUTLINE: Colorado Congressman John Salazar, Colorado State Senator Abel Tapia and Medal of Honor recipient Peter Lemon, met recently to discuss the introduction of the Stolen Valor Bill of 2005, which Salazar introduced yesterday to Congress. The foundation of the bill was spelled out in a policy analysis paper by CSU-Pueblo student Pamla Sterner.

Pueblo- A policy paper written by a Colorado State University – Pueblo political science student has become the basis for Federal legislation on military award fraud that was introduced yesterday (Tuesday) by Colorado Representative John Salazar.

Salazar has scheduled a press conference to promote the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 on Friday (July 22). For additional information on the press conference, contact his press secretary Nayyera Haq at 202-225-4761.The bill will be the most sweeping legislation regarding military awards since 1917. The language for the final draft was recently reviewed by the Department of Justice as well as FBI Special Agent Tom Cottone, the FBI’s lead investigator regarding medals fraud.

The Stolen Valor legislation was initially based on a policy analysis paper by CSU-Pueblo senior Pamla Sterner as part of Professor Collette Carter’s Political Analysis 240 class last fall. Sterner interned for Senator Abel Tapia last semester. In that treatise, Pam recommended legislative protections for the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross and Distinguished Service Cross.

According to Sterner’s analysis, the number of veterans authorized to wear the Medal of Honor has dwindled to 120. She noted that because the number of recipients is so few, imposters actually outnumber the true recipients of the award. Since 1996, the FBI’s Cottone has prosecuted more than 100 Medal of Honor imposters. Hundreds of other Medal of Honor imposters are able to avoid prosecution due to loopholes in Title 18, Section 704, legislation that makes it a crime to wear the Medal of Honor if a person hasn’t been awarded it, but does not make it a crime to fraudulently claim to be a Medal of Honor Recipient. Some imposters put on their resumes that they are Medal of Honor recipients, while others have been known to hang a Medal of Honor or bogus citation on their wall to give the impression that they are recipients. Others simply tell their friends, family, and community that they are recipients.

 
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