Mark Our Place Act

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3126. This bill was introduced by Senator Braun.

I thank my friend, Representative Luttrell, who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for leading the House companion bill to this important bill.

The Mark Our Place Act would ensure that every Medal of Honor recipient is properly honored where they have been laid to rest.

Under current law, only Medal of Honor recipients who served on or after April 6, 1917, can receive a headstone, grave marker, or medallion that reflects the Medal of Honor status. S. 3126 would remove that unjust date limitation.

It should go without saying that every Medal of Honor recipient's story of service should be displayed on their headstone should their family wish to do so.

The Medal of Honor is our Nation's highest military award. It is reserved for servicemembers who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and self-sacrifice in combat. Over 2,000 servicemembers were awarded Medals of Honor before April 6, 1917, and this bill would ensure that they are all recognized for their bravery.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 3126, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell), who is my good friend and the chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers.

Madam Speaker, I encourage Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3126, the Mark Our Place Act. I thank Senator Mike Braun for introducing this bill and Representative Morgan Luttrell for introducing the House companion.

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish a headstone, marker, or medallion signifying the status of a deceased member of the Armed Forces as a Medal of Honor recipient regardless of when the member served.

In spite of what the President-elect may think, the Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. Since 1976, VA has provided distinctive government- furnished headstones and markers for Medal of Honor recipients to recognize this prestigious honor.

Under current law, only Medal of Honor recipients who served after 1917 are eligible for such markers, meaning many recipients, principally from the Civil War era, have not been able to receive the full array of honors from VA. This will remedy that situation and allow descendants of those recipients who served prior to 1917 to request appropriate markers to honor their loved ones.

Madam Speaker, I support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I support S. 3126, the Mark Our Place Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Bost for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to be here today to speak on S. 3126, the Mark Our Place Act. I was proud to lead the House companion bill, H.R. 6507.

Under current law, VA is authorized to furnish or replace a headstone, grave marker, or medallion for only those Medal of Honor recipients who served on or after April 6, 1917.

The Mark Our Place Act would remove unnecessary red tape that prohibits VA from providing headstones with Medal of Honor markers to veterans buried in private cemeteries.

These veterans have risked everything to protect our freedoms, and honoring their service and sacrifice should be timeless. We must ensure that every recipient of our Nation's highest military decoration is recognized for their heroism.

Madam Speaker, I thank Senator Braun, Chairman Bost, and Ranking Member Takano for their leadership, and I urge my colleagues to support

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3126) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish or replace a headstone, marker, or medallion for the grave of an eligible Medal of Honor recipient, regardless of the recipient's dates of service in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 3126 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.