WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEWS CENTER) -- A bill to prevent people from protesting military funerals is one step closer to becoming law, and the bill is inspired by a teen from Maine.
Zachary Parker, from Searsport, was inspired to create the legislation after seeing the Westboro Baptist Church protest soldiers' funerals.
He held a town hall last year to take suggestions for revising the bill.
Maine Senator Olympia Snowe thought that was a good idea, and last year she drafted up legislation based on his proposal and submitted it to the senate.
On Thursday, the Senate voted to approve the bill.
The bill, called the SERVE act, would set a 300 foot buffer around the funeral site, and also keep protesters 600 feet away from the funeral procession route.
It also includes a provision for two hours of quiet before and after the funeral.
Zach, who is now joining the Air Force, says he's overjoyed.
He released a statement today reading, in part: "Many question the constitutionality of the SERVE Act and some say it violates the US freedom of free speech and the right to protest. I stand behind the Senator and the United States Senate, and ensure the American people that the SERVE Act has been carefully crafted to ensure that no rights are violated and ensure the American people that the SERVE Act has been carefully crafted to ensure that no rights are violated."
The bill now moves to the House for passage.
NEWS CENTER