Hershel Woody Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 186) to authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work on the National Mall to honor the extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed by Medal of Honor recipients.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 186, the bill now under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, as we approach the 250th celebration of our Nation next year, there is perhaps no greater way to celebrate our history than passing H.R. 186, which honors the valor and sacrifice of some of our Nation's bravest heroes, Medal of Honor recipients.

Madam Speaker, 162 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln awarded the first Medal of Honor in the midst of the Civil War. It remains our Nation's highest honor awarded to members of the Armed Forces and is bestowed sparingly to only those who have demonstrated the highest acts of valor. Less than 70 Medal of Honor recipients are alive today out of the more than 3,500 medals that have been awarded.

As the highest and most prestigious military decoration in the United States, the Medal of Honor symbolizes extraordinary acts of bravery, selflessness, and sacrifice beyond the call of duty.

Madam Speaker, by recognizing these remarkable individuals, the Medal of Honor inspires a sense of national pride, honors the memory of fallen heroes, and motivates future generations to embody the values of courage and honor.

The Medal of Honor continues to instill a profound sense of respect and gratitude for the sacrifices made in the defense of freedom and justice.

Congressman Moore's bipartisan bill, the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, will ensure that the monument honoring these brave heroes can be placed on what is known as the Reserve but is commonly referred to as ``The National Mall'' here in Washington, D.C.

A monument honoring our most exceptional citizens should be placed in an equally exceptional location. According to National Park Service data, The National Mall receives upward of 25 million visitors each year. The monuments and memorials located on The National Mall are the centerpiece of this history, and it is appropriate to include a new monument honoring veterans who have displayed the most courageous acts of valor recognized by our country.

In my home State of Arkansas, our State capital also has a memorial dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients. I hope the monument in D.C., like the one in Arkansas, can inspire reflection, patriotism, and gratitude for our Nation's military heroes.

Last Congress, the Committee on Natural Resources had the privilege of hearing from one of the 61 living Medal of Honor recipients, Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Britt Slabinski. In his inspiring testimony, he reminded us the Medal of Honor represents those willing to go above and beyond in any circumstance, no matter how small.

This monument will serve as an everlasting reminder of this country's greatness and the difference that one single person can make. The legislation before us today, H.R. 186, would authorize the location of the National Medal of Honor Memorial in a prominent location on The National Mall, with the intent to keep it near the Lincoln Memorial as President Lincoln was the first to give out this special award.

I was proud to support the original legislation authorizing this memorial. I am proud to support this subsequent legislation today.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Moore for his leadership. I urge my colleague to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his hard work on this legislation. I thank the gentleman from California and the minority for supporting it, as well.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I note that this bill has been named after Hershel ``Woody'' Williams who, sadly, passed away in June of 2022. He was known for his extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. At the young age of 21, he single-handedly cleared a path for American troops against Japanese forces in an act of extraordinary bravery.

This is a good bill that honors Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, our Nation's heroic Medal of Honor recipients, and all those who have served. It honors their memory, remembers their legacy, and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to upholding the principles for which they fought so valiantly.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Madam Speaker, I agree with the chairman. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration. It is awarded to brave individuals whose extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice exceed the call of duty.

In 2021, Congress authorized establishing a National Medal of Honor Monument to honor over 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, ensuring that their courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment are shared for generations to come.

The bill before us today would allow for this memorial to be placed on The National Mall in close proximity to the Lincoln Memorial. That is appropriate, and Democrats support it.

In December of 1861, as the first brutal year of the Civil War came to an end, President Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the Medal of Honor recipients. I think it is appropriate to place this memorial in the footprint of the Lincoln Memorial as a fitting tribute to that legacy.

I thank Representatives Moore and Veasey for their collaboration and leadership on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Before moving on, I do want to mention that there are growing demands on The National Mall. In 2003, Congress declared The National Mall a completed work of civic art and prohibited future construction of new memorials and monuments in the core area known as the Reserve. As we all know, Congress changes its mind. Since then, it has agreed to authorize the placement of several new memorials and for good reason.

Just last month we approved the Women's Suffrage National Monument sponsored by Representative Neguse. That new memorial will ensure that women's stories are better reflected, filling an important gap that perhaps was not considered when Congress established the Reserve 20- plus years ago.

The National Medal of Honor Monument is another fitting tribute that deserves a place on The National Mall. We need to be clear-eyed about the future of The National Mall. I hope that this is a conversation we can have this Congress so that we can continue to make the best decisions about what has been dubbed America's front yard, one of the most visited and revered units of the National Park System.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act. This bill, which passed the House unanimously during the 118th Congress, is the final legislative step to establish a location for a monument recognizing America's Medal of Honor recipients on The National Mall.

Of the estimated 40 million individuals who have served in the United States Armed Services, fewer than 4,000 have been awarded the Medal of Honor.

President Abraham Lincoln awarded the first Medals of Honor more than 160 years ago, and it is only fitting that this monument is located near the Lincoln Memorial on The National Mall.

This monument will serve as a reminder that freedom is not free, and it will inspire new generations of Americans to revere and support the brave men and women who we owe our freedom to.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 186 to give America's heroes and their families a monument for their sacrifices for our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, on January 21, 2025, I missed Roll Call Votes No. 18 and No. 19.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 18 (H.R. 186) and YEA on Roll Call No. 19 (H.R. 187).