DENVER - What happens when Hollywood's comedic cads cross Congress? It could mean new legislation designed to curtail the hundreds of Americans regularly dishonoring the nation's veterans.

Representative John Salazar (D-Colorado) has introduced the Stolen Valor Act in Congress this week. It would make it a federal crime to falsely claim to be a decorated veteran or to falsely display military medals. Current federal law only covers those who would actually wear medals they did not earn.

In the current blockbuster comedy, "Wedding Crashers," Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn play two sex-crazed bachelors who crash weddings, using aliases and personas to achieve their goals. In one scene, they claim to be Purple Heart winners, the award given only to those wounded in battle or to the next of kin of those soldiers killed. One character says with the purple hearts, "they won't have to buy another drink all summer."

"It's a dishonor to our veterans. It's a dishonor to our country. It's a dishonor to our flag," said Salazar at a news conference Friday on Capitol Hill. "For all the real heroes of our country, there are hundreds of phonies, a number of impostors."

Salazar was joined at the news conference by Hershel Gobel, who earned a Purple Heart in 1969 when he was injured in Vietnam. Gobel says there are already numerous examples of "wannabes" buying Purple Hearts from pawnshops in an effort to be "accepted in society."

"It's beyond me how anybody can think that is funny," said Gobel. "It is not funny at all.

"They are encouraging people to demean the medal and it's just not right."

What has irritated veterans groups even further is the movie's website, which offers fans a "Crasher Kit," where they make "their own" Purple Heart. It reads, "Carrying a Purple Heart in your jacket guarantees you attention, admiration and plenty of free booze. To get one of these babies, some dudes have to prove their physical, mental and spiritual strength with great feats of bravery on the battlefield. All you need to do is press the button below."

"I love those parodies, but this is not a parody," said Gobel. "This is sacrilegious."

B.G. Burkett wrote a book called "Stolen Valor," in which he chronicled the stories of numerous individuals who had claimed to be decorated veterans only to be later exposed as fakes. He has worked with Salazar on the federal legislation, the Stolen Valor Act, which is named after his book.

"Men who served their country were not given a million dollar retirement package and stock options," Burkett said. "That medal represents everything about America.

"I think if you put (falsely claiming to be a decorated veterans) in the force of law, the word's going to spread that it's not funny. It's not something you take and put on because you feel like it."

New Line Cinema, which is responsible for the film, had no comment.