Washington, D.C.  – The U.S. House of Representatives today approved an amendment offered by Congressmen Dan Boren (D-Okla.) and Charles W. Boustany Jr. (R-La.) to protect our troops and their families from commercial exploitation.  The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act prohibits the commercial use of soldiers’ names and images without permission.

“We owe it to America’s fallen soldiers, and the families they leave behind, to protect their names and images from shameful exploitation,” Boustany said.  “While there is no way to ever express in words the significance of their sacrifice, we have a duty to honor and protect their memories.  This amendment transcends party lines, and I was pleased to work with my colleague, Congressman Boren, to secure its passage.”  

Vendors continue to sell products containing the names and images of fallen soldiers despite repeated objections from family members.  The Boren-Boustany Amendment requires they receive permission in writing from the family for this commercial activity.  U.S. Attorneys can seek injunctions against violators.  Fines and/or jail time can be imposed if those injunctions are violated.

“This is a tremendous victory for military families,” Boren said.  “Our troops and their loved ones have made an enormous commitment to our country.  We owe them the right of deciding whether or not someone can profit from their sacrifices.  I’m pleased Congressman Boustany and I were able to build such broad, bipartisan support for this effort.”

Boren and Boustany have been working on this issue for a year at the request of constituents in their respective districts.  Both offered stand-alone legislation in the 109th Congress to address the problem and teamed up for this bipartisan effort in the 110th Congress.