{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-and-coats-applaud-passage-of-alicia-dawn-koehl-respect-for", "Brooks and Coats Applaud Passage of Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act in the House of Representatives", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (R-IN5) and United States Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) applauded today\u2019s passage of the Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill gives the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S. Department of the Army authority to disinter ineligible veterans buried in national cemeteries that have committed a federal or state capital crime.\n\u00a0\nThe legislation approved by the House was introduced by Coats and passed by the Senate on November 18. Brooks sponsored companion legislation in the House. The act now heads to the President\u2019s desk for final approval.\n  \u201cWe must do everything we can to protect the hallowed grounds where our nation\u2019s bravest men and women are laid to rest,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cThose who\u2019ve sacrificed so much to protect our freedom should be buried next to fellow heroes. I\u2019m grateful that we\u2019ve taken this important step to protect the integrity of our national cemeteries and give the Koehl family the closure they deserve. Alicia was a mother, daughter, caring friend and compassionate community member. We can never replace the deep sense of loss felt by those who knew and loved her, but I am heartened that we can pay tribute to her with this important piece of legislation.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cAfter more than a year of working with the Koehl family and the Department of Veterans Affairs, we are one step closer to seeing this legislation become law,\u201d Coats said. \u201cThis bill protects the integrity of our national cemeteries, enforces current law and ensures that the families of our veterans can bury their loved ones among heroes. I truly wish this legislation was not needed and the tragic situation that devastated a Hoosier family and left two children without their loving mother never occurred. I urge the president to sign this bill into law, protect our national cemeteries and allow Alicia\u2019s concern for others to be her lasting legacy. \u201d\n\u00a0\nSpecifically, the legislation ensures the VA will disinter the remains of military veteran Michael L. Anderson who shot and killed Indianapolis resident Alicia Dawn Koehl on May 30 of last year. The crime occurred at an apartment complex within the boundaries of Indiana\u2019s 5th Congressional District. Anderson shot Koehl 13 times before taking his own life and was later buried at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Michigan. The burial occurred with full military honors and at taxpayer expense.\u00a0 Federal law prohibits individuals who \u201chave committed a Federal or State capital crime but were unavailable for trial due to death\u201d from being buried in national cemeteries. After learning of Anderson\u2019s burial and this law, the Koehl family contacted the VA requesting that he be disinterred.\n\u00a0\nFor over a year, members of Indiana\u2019s Congressional delegation contacted the VA asking for status updates on the matter. On July 30, the VA notified the delegation that the Koehl family\u2019s request would be denied because it lacked the authority to disinter the remains of an individual buried in one of its cemeteries.\u00a0The Coats-Brooks bill gives the VA the authority it needs to correct its mistake.\n\u00a0\n\u201cMy beloved wife of 16 years, Alicia Dawn, was the glue that held our family together,\u201d said Alicia Koehl\u2019s widower, Paul Koehl. \u201cThrough this positive step, at least in some small measure, Alicia\u2019s death will not have been in vain, but instead, an instrument for justice and peace for our family as well as the families of future victims.\u201d\n\u00a0\nAlicia Koehl was a mother of two and very active in several community causes. She was a Girl Scout Leader and \u201cVolunteer of the Year\u201d at Spring Mill Elementary School. Her passing was mourned with candlelight vigils and an official tribute from the Indianapolis City County Council.\n\u00a0\nThe legislation is co-sponsored by every member of the Indiana Congressional Delegation. To learn more about Senator Dan Coats, go to\u00a0www.Coats.senate.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-and-coats-applaud-passage-of-alicia-dawn-koehl-respect-for"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5036151744425297, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}