← Back to Bills
H.R. 6406House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act

Sponsored by Marcy KapturRep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Introduced November 14, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 1:05 PM UTC

The Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code to create a new service medal called the Last Servicemember Standing Medal. It honors service members who were the last surviving members of a unit after a combat incident, demonstrated extraordinary heroism, and were deployed in war or overseas contingency operations. The medal can be awarded to living recipients or, if the service member is deceased, to their next‑of‑kin.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new Section 1135 to Title 10 authorizing the Secretary of Defense to issue the Last Servicemember Standing Medal.
  • Sets eligibility: active‑duty members deployed in war or contingency, who were the last surviving member of a unit after a combat incident, showed extraordinary heroism, and are recommended by their commander and at least two peers.
  • Limits each person to receive only one such medal.
  • Allows the medal to be presented to the next‑of‑kin if the eligible service member is deceased.
  • Requires the Secretary of Defense to approve the medal’s design and issue uniform regulations for its award.
  • Includes a congressional sense urging the Secretary of Defense to expedite the medal’s design and the mechanisms for its issuance.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

November 14, 2023

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 14, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

November 14, 2023

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Introduced in HouseIssued November 14, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 6406

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 14, 2023

Ms. Kaptur (for herself and Mr. Carter of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Last Servicemember Standing Medal.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act.

2.

Authorization for Last Servicemember Standing medal

(a)

Authorization

Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by redesignating sections 1135 and 1136 as sections 1136 and section 1137, respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after section 1134 the following new section:

1135.

Last Servicemember Standing medal

(a)

Medal authorized

The Secretary concerned may issue a service medal, to be known as the Last Servicemember Standing medal, to persons eligible under subsection (c).

(b)

Design

The Last Servicemember Standing medal shall be of an appropriate design approved by the Secretary of Defense, with ribbons, lapel pins, and other appurtenances.

(c)

Eligible persons

Subject to subsection (d), a person eligible to be issued the Last Servicemember Standing medal is any member who—

(1)

served on active duty;

(2)

was deployed during war or overseas contingency operation;

(3)

as a result of a combat instance during such war or overseas contingency, was the last surviving member of a unit;

(4)

demonstrated extraordinary heroism in defense of the United States during such combat instance; and

(5)

whose character is recommended for recognition by their commanding officer and at least two peers.

(d)

One medal authorized

Not more than one Last Servicemember Standing medal may be issued to any person.

(e)

Issuance to next-of-Kin

If a person described in subsection (c) is deceased, the Secretary concerned may provide for issuance of the Last Servicemember Standing medal to the next-of-kin of the person.

(f)

Regulations

The issuance of a Last Servicemember Standing medal shall be subject to such regulations as the Secretaries concerned shall prescribe for purposes of this section. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that any regulations prescribed under this subsection are uniform to the extent practicable.

.

(b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should take appropriate actions to expedite—

(1)

the design of the Last Servicemember Standing medal provided for by section 1136 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a); and

(2)

the establishment and implementation of mechanisms to facilitate the issuance of the Last Servicemember Standing Medal to persons eligible for the issuance of the medal under such section.