Lawmaker chastises military for not keeping database of medal recipients

The military has come under sharp criticism at a House hearing for failing to create a searchable database of medal recipients.

A database would be one way to identify and prosecute those falsely claiming to have received the honors.

Witnesses from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a nongovernment military awards database joined Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz in criticizing the Pentagon.

Anyone making false claims of receiving military honors could be prosecuted under a 2006 law, the Stolen Valor Act. Conviction could bring imprisonment for up to six months, or up to a year for false claims of receiving the Medal of Honor.

The Supreme Court is considering whether the law is constitutional.

Defense Department witnesses say the records system has been improved, but there's no all-services database.