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S. 1998: Stolen Valor Act of 2005

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S. 1998: Stolen Valor Act of 2005

109th Congress · introduced 2005-11-10 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Became Public Law No: 109-437.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2005-11-10 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 109-437. (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Stolen Valor Act of 2005

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Stolen Valor Act of 2005 - Amends the federal criminal code to expand the prohibition against wearing, manufacturing, or selling military decorations or medals without legal authorization to prohibit purchasing, soliciting, mailing, shipping, importing, exporting, producing blank certificates of receipt for, advertising, trading, bartering, or exchanging such decorations or medals without authorization. Prohibits falsely representing oneself as having been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces or any of the service medals or badges. Increases penalties for violations if the offense involves a distinguished service cross, an Air Force Cross, a Navy Cross, a silver star, or a Purple Heart.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Stolen Valor Act of 2005

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND] · 27 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

John Thune (R-SD)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong109-s1998 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109