(?ung;er of the ?nite?! gutters $01 211515 October 22, 2015 The Honorable Ashton Carter Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301 Dear- Secretary Carter: We were disturbed to learn that the Department of Defense has been sending cease-and-desist letters to veterans groups alleging trademark infringement for their use of of?cial military seals to indicate, celebrate, and honor the various military departments they served. Honoring our nation?s veterans should not require veterans? organizations to seek a trademark license from DOD. For example, the United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County (UVC) received a cease-and- desist letter for their use of of?cial seals that indicated the departments they were honoring on a ?yer for their Memorial Day observance - the ?yer is enclosed for your review. The UVC also uses these seals on parade banners and other parade materials and has done so for 97 years without issue. It appears that other veterans? organizations have also received such letters. It is dif?cult to understand the legal basis, never mind the logic of the DOD threatening any non- pro?t veterans group with trademark liability for using of?cial seals to honor our nation?s veterans. It is our hope that these prior efforts simply represent a signi?cant error in judgment of lower levels of authority. It is also our understanding that the DOD is currently updating its licensing policy to allow veterans groups to more easily use emblems and other military marks to honor their service. While this effort to update DOD policies is appreciated, it does not solve the immediate issue of how veterans groups are to replace their banners and other parade materials in time for this year?s Veterans Day. In fact, some groups may even have to cancel their parades as they cannot afford or don?t have the time to raise more funds for new banners and materials that would comply with the new rules. Given both the ?nancial and time restrictions before this year?s Veterans Day, we ask that you grant a one-time waiver to all non-pro?t veterans groups to use the of?cial seals of the military branches in upcoming Veterans Day parades or other patriotic events for the remainder of 2015. PRINTED 0N RECYCLED PAPER We are con?dent that this will provide a fair solution that allows veterans groups to use their existing materials containing of?cial seals in time for this year?s Veterans Day holiday as you determine more veteran organization friendly rules going forward. Sincerely, Letter signed by, in orderzReps. Zoe Lofgren Jim Sensenbrenner Corinne Brown (D-F Mark Amodei Bob Brady Duncan Hunter John Conyers (D- Mich), Walter Jones Judy Chu Barbara Lee Mike Honda Grace Napolitano Alan Lowenthal Anna G. Eshoo (D- Calif.), Mike Thompson Lois Capps Eric Swalwell Xavier Beoerra John Garamendi (D-Calif), and Dina Titus (D-Nev.)