A bill to exonerate and to provide for a general and unconditional amnesty for certain persons who have violated or are alleged to have violated laws in the course of protest against the involvement of the United States in Indochina, and for other purposes.
War Resisters Exoneration Act of 1979 - Grants general amnesty to persons who violated certain laws between August 4, 1964, and the date of enactment of this Act, including: draft evasion; abetting draft evasion; draft card destruction; refusing induction into the Armed Forces; desertion; abetting desertion; using contemptuous words against specified governmental officials while a commissioned officer; and causing or attempting to cause disloyalty or mutiny by any member of the Armed Forces.
States that the effect of the amnesty shall be to nullify all legal consequences of any such violation.
Establishes an Amnesty Commission, and directs the Commission to grant amnesty to any person who, between August 5, 1964, and the date of enactment of this Act, violated any Federal law not enumerated in this Act or any State or local law if it finds that: (1) such violation was in substantial part motivated by the individual's opposition to United States involvement in Indochina; and (2) the individual was not personally responsible for any significant property damage or substantial personal injury to others. Directs the Commission to grant amnesty to any person whose violation of law resulted in such damage or injury if it finds the violation was justifiable on the basis of a deeply held moral or ethical belief.
Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Referred to Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice.
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