[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8973 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8973

  To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant 
 Rafael Peralta for acts of valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2026

 Mr. Issa (for himself and Mr. Vargas) introduced the following bill; 
         which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant 
 Rafael Peralta for acts of valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sergeant Rafael Peralta Medal of 
Honor Authorization Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) On November 15, 2004, during combat operations in 
        Fallujah, Iraq, Sergeant Rafael Peralta, United States Marine 
        Corps, served as a squad leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 
        3rd Marines, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
            (2) During a house-clearing operation in the Second Battle 
        of Fallujah, Sergeant Peralta was mortally wounded by enemy 
        gunfire while leading Marines engaged in close-quarters combat 
        against insurgent forces.
            (3) Moments after being mortally wounded, an enemy grenade 
        landed in the room occupied by Sergeant Peralta and fellow 
        Marines.
            (4) Multiple eyewitness Marines reported that Sergeant 
        Peralta consciously and intentionally pulled the grenade 
        beneath his body, absorbing the blast and shielding nearby 
        Marines from death or serious bodily harm.
            (5) The actions of Sergeant Peralta reflected conspicuous 
        gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and 
        beyond the call of duty, in keeping with the highest traditions 
        of the United States Marine Corps and the Armed Forces of the 
        United States.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Sergeant Rafael Peralta's actions on November 15, 2004, 
        exemplify the highest ideals of duty, courage, and sacrifice;
            (2) Marines whose lives were saved by the actions of 
        Sergeant Peralta continue to bear witness to his valor and 
        selflessness; and
            (3) the United States owes a solemn obligation to ensure 
        that acts of extraordinary heroism receive full and fair 
        consideration for the Medal of Honor regardless of 
        administrative delay or statutory limitation.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO SERGEANT RAFAEL 
              PERALTA.

    (a) Authorization.--Notwithstanding the time limitations specified 
in sections 8298(a) and 8300 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 is authorized to 
award the Medal of Honor, under section 8291 of such title, to Rafael 
Peralta for the acts of valor described in subsection (b).
    (b) Acts of Valor Described.-- The acts of valor described in this 
subsection are the actions of Rafael Peralta as a member of the Marine 
Corps in Fallujah, Iraq, on November 15, 2004.
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