Heck reintroduces stolen valor bill

WASHINGTON - A new effort was launched in Congress on Tuesday to crack down on people who attempt to pass themselves off as wartime heroes.

Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., reintroduced the Stolen Valor Act, which would make it a crime to make false claims about receiving certain military medals in order to obtain service benefits, a veteran-reserved job or other things of value.

Despite broad support among veterans and members of Congress, the effort to penalize military award fraud failed to pass last year. Lawmakers could not settle on Heck's bill or a competing one sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.

The bill introduced by the Nevadan, a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, passed 410-3 in the House. But the Democratic-controlled Senate preferred Webb's version.

"I hope we can build off last year's strong bipartisan support in the House and get this important bill signed into law this year," Heck said Tuesday.