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Are Dems trying to punish Trump post acquittal? New bill might rob twice impeached presidents of Arlington burial

The bill, called the No Glory for Hate Act, was sponsored by Representative Linda Sanchez and includes 13 other Democrat House Representatives

A new bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Democrats has invited ire for its apparent targeting of former President Donald Trump. The bill, which was introduced in the House in late January, aims at restricting certain privileges for "certain former presidents," including burial at Arlington Cemetery. The bill specifically aims at those who have been twice impeached by the House of Representatives and historically, only Trump comes under this categorization.

The bill, called the No Glory for Hate Act, was sponsored by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and includes 13 other Democrat House Representatives as cosponsors. The bill aims to prohibit the use of federal funds "for the commemoration of certain former Presidents, and for other purposes."

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Presidents are eligible for burial at Arlington due to their role as Commanders-in-chief. Only two US presidents, William Howard Taft and John F Kennedy are buried at the Arlington National Cemetary. Both Taft and Kennedy had served in the military. Senator Tammy Duckworth proposed a bill to block presidents with no military service from being buried at Arlington in June 2020.

According to the bill, if passed, no federal funds can be used to "create or display any symbol, monument, or statue commemorating any former President that has been twice impeached by the House of Representatives on or before the date of enactment of this Act or has been convicted of a State or Federal crime relating to actions taken in an official capacity as President of the United States on Federal public land, including any highway, park, subway, Federal building, military installation, street, or other Federal property."

The bill also prohibits naming, designating, or redesignating "a Federal building or Federal land after, or in commemoration of, any former President that has been twice impeached by the House of Representatives on or before the date of enactment of this Act or has been convicted of a State or Federal crime relating to actions taken in an official capacity as President of the United States."

According to the bill, federal funds will not be allowed to be provided to a state, political subdivision or any entity if the funds will be used "for the benefit of any building, land, structure, installation, or any other property that bears the name, or is named or designated," citing the same qualifications as previously.

The bill would also restrict "any former President that has been twice impeached by the House of Representatives" from receiving any benefits under the Former Presidents Act of 1958, other than Secret Service protection. Additionally, the bill also states, "the Secretary of Defense shall not approve a determination of eligibility for interment or inurnment in Arlington National Cemetery made by the Secretary of the Army that permits the interment or inurnment in Arlington National Cemetery of any former President that has been twice impeached by the House of Representatives on or before the date of enactment of this Act or has been convicted of a State or Federal crime relating to actions taken in an official capacity as President of the United States."

By virtue of having served as the President, Trump qualifies to be buried at the Arlington National Cemetary due to his role as the commander-in-chief while in office. Honorably discharged members in certain categories are eligible for burial at the cemetery, including members who died on active duty and their family, retirees and their immediate family, recipients of the Purple Heart, or Silver Star, and above, and any honorably discharged prisoner of war who died after November 30, 1993. 

Additionally, for inurnment at the cemetery, the above qualifications are valid, in addition to veterans and their immediate family, reservists, National Guard, or Air National Guard members who die while on active duty for training or full-time service and their immediate family, Reserve or National Guard members with at least one day of active duty (other than for training) and who are qualified to collect retired pay.

Many took to social media to call out the bill, asking Democrats to focus on other matters. One user wrote, "cadet bone spurs already does not qualify House Dems should be focusing on $2000/m, student loan forgiveness, #MedicareForAll and emergency help for Texas." Another tweeted, "Or you know you could work on getting people the stimulus money you promised them." A user opined, "I don’t like Trump, and I’m so glad he’s OUT. But this is ridiculous! House Dems, get to work already!!!"