Federal

Religious Insignia on Dog Tags Act

Source: Congress.gov · 358 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the Secretary of Defense to update Defense Department rules within 90 days. The update would allow Defense Department trademarks to be combined with religious symbols on military identification tags (dog tags) that are sold commercially.

Who It Affects

The Secretary of Defense, companies licensed to sell dog tags (called lawful trademark licensees), and people who purchase dog tags with religious symbols.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of Defense must review and update Department of Defense Directive 5535.12 and related regulations within 90 days of the law being passed (Sec. 2(a)) • The updated rules must allow Department of Defense trademarks to be combined with religious insignia on commercial dog tags (Sec. 2(a)) • Authorized companies holding trademark licenses must be permitted to sell these combined dog tags (Sec. 2(a)) • The rule change is given a retroactive

What Changes

The Defense Department's current rules will be revised to permit mixing military trademarks with religious symbols on commercially sold dog tags. Companies with proper licenses will be allowed to sell these products.

Important Definitions

Dog tags: Commercial identification tags (Sec. 2)

Effective Date

The update takes effect retroactively on September 13, 2013, but the Secretary of Defense has 90 days from when the law passes to complete the rule changes (Sec. 2(a) and (b))

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 392 To direct the Secretary of Defense to revise and update the Department of Defense regulations to allow trademarks owned or controlled by the Department of Defense to be combined with religious insignia on com- mercial identification tags (commonly known as ‘‘dog tags’’) and to be sold by lawful trademark licensees, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 17, 2023 Mr. STEUBE (for himself, Mr. DUNCAN, and Mr. WALTZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense to revise and update the Department of Defense regulations to allow trade- marks owned or controlled by the Department of Defense to be combined with religious insignia on commercial identification tags (commonly known as ‘‘dog tags’’) and to be sold by lawful trademark licensees, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Religious Insignia on 4 Dog Tags Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:09 Jan 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H392.IH H392 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 392 IH SEC. 2. RELIGIOUS INSIGNIA ON COMMERCIAL IDENTIFICA- 1 TION TAGS. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 3 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 4 shall review and update Department of Defense Directive 5 5535.12 and any associated regulations to allow trade- 6 marks owned or controlled by the Department of Defense 7 to be combined with religious insignia on commercial iden- 8 tification tags (commonly known as ‘‘dog tags’’) and to 9 be sold by lawful trademark licensees. 10 (b) RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE.—The update to 11 the Directive under subsection (a) shall be deemed to have 12 taken effect on September 13, 2013. 13 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:09 Jan 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H392.IH H392 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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