Lawmaker urges Senate to approve National Medal of Honor monument bill

A lawmaker on the House floor recognized National Medal of Honor Day and urged the Senate to approve legislation that would authorize a permanent National Medal of Honor monument on the National Mall.

The lawmaker opened the remarks by saying, “I rise today to recognize National Medal of Honor Day and the American heroes who have earned our highest military decoration,” and noted that more than 40,000,000 Americans have served in the U.S. armed forces since the Civil War while fewer than 4,000 have received the Medal of Honor.

The lawmaker highlighted recipients from his home state of Utah, including Petty Officer George Edward Wallen (awarded 10/05/1945) for repeatedly risking his life to rescue and treat comrades at Iwo Jima; Private Jose F. Valdez (awarded 1946) for covering his patrol’s retreat against overwhelming German forces; and Lieutenant Myles Thacker (transcript: “Bridal Myles Thacker”), who the lawmaker said was awarded the Medal of Honor on 10/13/1973 for directing air strikes and artillery from an exposed position and organizing a withdrawal during the Vietnam War.

Quoting former President Harry S. Truman, the lawmaker said the nation “does not go to war for gain or territory” but for principles that produce servicemembers who show extraordinary courage.

The lawmaker said one of his first initiatives in Congress was to authorize a National Medal of Honor monument in Washington, D.C., and that an earlier bill on that effort was signed into law in December 2021. He introduced the Herschel Woody Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act to authorize the monument’s permanent place on the National Mall and told colleagues the House had passed that bill by a vote of 414 to 0.

“It’s time for the Senate to do their job and join the House in coming together in a bipartisan way,” the lawmaker said, urging the upper chamber to pass the location act so it can move one step closer to the president’s desk. He thanked colleagues who worked on advancing the measure and closed by thanking Medal of Honor recipients for their patriotism, sacrifice and example before yielding back his time.

The remarks were an expression of commemoration and a public appeal for congressional action; the transcript records no formal vote or procedural action taken during this floor statement.