Gregorio Sablan: “Some Members may be aware of specific situations regarding religious symbols located on public land in California. In…”

“Some Members may be aware of specific situations regarding religious symbols located on public land in California. In fact, the committee report for H.R. 290 mentions one of these ongoing controversies. It is important to note that the committee report also makes clear ``this legislation does not specifically address the Mt. Soledad situation.'' Further, the report includes analysis of the legislation by the Congressional Budget Office, which found, ``under current law, religious symbols are not barred from being used in any military memorials; thus, H.R. 290 would codify current practice. According to the Department of Defense, the National Park Service, and the American Battle Monuments Commission, implementing H.R. 290 would not require any new memorials to be built or current memorials to be changed.'' H.R. 290 is not necessary and does not appear to change current law. As a result, we do not oppose it. At this time, I reserve the balance of my time.”