H.R. 4641House115th Congress (2017-2019)Enacted

To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to John L. Canley for acts of valor during the Vietnam War while a member of the Marine Corps.

Introduced December 13, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 7:36 PM UTC

The bill lets the President award the Medal of Honor to former Marine Gunnery Sergeant John L. Canley for heroic actions during the Vietnam War. It removes the usual time limits that normally prevent awards many years after the service. The award would recognize his combat actions from late January to early February 1968, for which he already received the Navy Cross.

Key Provisions

  • Waives the statutory time limits that normally restrict Medal of Honor awards, allowing an exception for Canley.
  • Specifies the heroic actions performed by Canley between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, 1968, as the basis for the Medal of Honor.

Legislative Activity

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14 earlier actions
Became Law Latest Action

Became Private Law No: 115-1.

January 29, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 13, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

December 13, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

December 14, 2017

HouseFloor

Mr. Coffman asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

December 21, 2017 • 2:28 PM

HouseCommittee

Committee on Armed Services discharged.

December 21, 2017

HouseFloor

Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H10362)

December 21, 2017 • 2:28 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H10362)

December 21, 2017 • 2:29 PM

HouseFloor

On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H10362)

December 21, 2017 • 2:29 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

December 21, 2017 • 2:29 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate, read twice.

December 21, 2017

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S170)

January 11, 2018

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

January 12, 2018

President

Presented to President.

January 17, 2018

Became Law

Signed by President.

January 29, 2018

Became Law

Became Private Law No: 115-1.

January 29, 2018

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about H.R. 4641 on the floor

3 Republicans
Michael B. Enzi
Sen. Michael B. EnziR-WY · Feb 28, 2018

Mr. President, I wish to submit to the Senate the budget scorekeeping report for February 2018. The report compares current-law levels of spending and revenues with the amounts the Senate agreed to…

Michael B. Enzi
Sen. Michael B. EnziR-WY · Apr 12, 2018

Mr. President, I wish to submit to the Senate the budget scorekeeping report for April 2018. The report compares current-law levels of spending and revenues with the amounts the Senate agreed to in…

Michael B. Enzi
Sen. Michael B. EnziR-WY · Jan 18, 2018

Madam President, I wish to submit to the Senate the budget scorekeeping report for January 2018. The report compares current-law levels of spending and revenues with the amounts the Senate agreed to…

Lisa Murkowski
Sen. Lisa MurkowskiR-AK · Jan 11, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 4641, which was received from the House and is at the desk. Mr. President, I further ask…

Mike Coffman
Rep. Mike CoffmanR-CO-6 · Dec 21, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 4641) to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to…

Bill Text

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One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America

At the Second Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and eighteen

H. R. 4641

AN ACT

To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to John L. Canley for acts of valor during the Vietnam War while a member of the Marine Corps.

1.

Authorization for award of Medal of Honor to John L. Canley for acts of valor during the Vietnam War

(a)

Waiver of time limitations

Notwithstanding the time limitations specified in section 6248 of title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the Armed Forces, the President may award the Medal of Honor under section 6241 of such title to John L. Canley for the acts of valor during the Vietnam War described in subsection (b).

(b)

Acts of valor described

The acts of valor referred to in subsection (a) are the actions of then Gunnery Sergeant John L. Canley during combat operations from January 31, 1968, to February 6, 1968, during the Vietnam War as a member of the Marine Corps, for which he was previously awarded the Navy Cross.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.