SERVE Act of 2011

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.

S.815 through Congress

S.815 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateApr 13, 2011IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (2)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.815.

Related House bill: H.R.1627 Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012

Related House bill: H.R.1591 SERVE Act of 2011

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 13, 2011

Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011 or SERVE Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code concerning the prohibition on disruptions of funerals of members or former members of the Armed Forces to increase the period covered under such prohibition from one to two hours before and after a military funeral. Includes within such unlawful conduct any disturbance or disruption occurring within 500 feet of the residence of a surviving member of a deceased's immediate family. Provides civil remedies, including actual and statutory damages.

Makes identical changes under federal veterans' provisions concerning the prohibition on certain demonstrations and disruptions at national cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · R–ME

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

37 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 8, 2011
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
Apr 13, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Apr 13, 2011
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Apr 13, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.815 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.815, 112th Congress: SERVE Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/815

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-04-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s815/BILLS-112s815is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:31:49Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.815 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.815 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.815, 112th Congress: SERVE Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/815

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-04-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s815/BILLS-112s815is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:31:49Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.815 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.815 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.815, 112th Congress: SERVE Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/815

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-04-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s815/BILLS-112s815is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:31:49Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.815 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.815 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.815, 112th Congress: SERVE Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/815

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-04-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s815/BILLS-112s815is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:31:49Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.815 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.