Congressman Russ Fulcher (R-ID) introduced the Bring Our Heroes Home Act (BOHHA) alongside Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH). This bipartisan bill is a companion bill to U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) senate bill, S.2794, which was introduced on November 6, 2019, and has received endorsements from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Veterans (AMVETS) and the Coalition of Families of Korean and Cold War POW/MIAs.
The Bring Our Heroes Home Act would ensure that family members can more easily obtain the records of American service members who were listed as Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA). The existing process for families of Missing Armed Forces Personnel to recover these records is extremely cumbersome and lengthy. Many times, when families can track down the records, much of the information is redacted because it was once classified, even though the classification may no longer apply.
This bill would require executive agencies in possession of the Missing Armed Forces Personnel records to account for them. The records would then be reviewed quickly by an independent board to determine if they may be declassified. They would then be deposited at the National Archives where families can easily access them.
Congressman Fulcher commented, “Idaho families should not have to deal with bureaucratic red tape just to learn about the brave history of their loved-ones. I am proud to introduce this bicameral, bipartisan legislation to ensure families have access to the stories of sacrifice by their family members.”
