[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 126 (Friday, September 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11430-S11431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. 
        Bingaman):
  S. 1633. To recognize National Medal of Honor sites in California, 
Indiana, and South Carolina; to the Committee on Armed Services.


 legislation to recognize national medal of honor sites in california, 
                      indiana, and south carolina

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
would designate the Medal of Honor memorials at the national cemetery 
at Riverside, California, the White River State Park at Indianapolis, 
Indiana, and the museum at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South 
Carolina, as National Medal of Honor sites. I am joined in this effort 
by Senators Crapo, Cochran, and Bingaman. This legislation is a 
companion bill to H.R. 1663, sponsored by Representative Ken Calvert 
and cosponsored by 77 Members of the House of Representatives.
  Mr. President, this is not a frivolous piece of legislation that I am 
introducing today. The Medal of Honor is this nation's highest honor. 
The 3,417 Americans who have received the Medal of Honor, from the 
Civil War through the terrible battle in the dusty streets of 
Mogadishu, each demonstrated uncommon courage in the service of their 
country, many at the cost of their lives. In testimony in support of 
the House bill before the Veterans Subcommittee on Benefits, Paul 
Bucha, president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, stated 
that the Society ``believes that these projects will bring full 
recognition to recipients and is hopeful that this will complete the 
system of memorials that recognize Medal of Honor recipients.'' Passage 
of the bill Senators Crapo, Cochran, Bingaman and I are introducing 
today will help to ensure this recognition in a timely manner.
  Designation of the three sites as ``National'' memorials will give 
them the status they deserve, while bringing them appropriately under 
the department of Interior. There is no cost associated with this 
legislation. I hope that my colleagues in the Senate will support 
passage of this legislation, and thank the President for this 
opportunity to address the Senate on behalf of this worthy legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

[[Page S11431]]

                                S. 1633

       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 ``National Medal of Honor 
     Memorial Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration 
     which the Nation bestows.
       (2) The Medal of Honor is the only military decoration 
     given in the name of the Congress of the United States, and 
     therefore on behalf of the people of the United States.
       (3) The Congressional Medal of Honor Society was 
     established by an Act of Congress in 1958, and continues to 
     protect, uphold, and preserve the dignity, honor, and name of 
     the Medal of Honor and of the individual recipients of the 
     Medal of Honor.
       (4) The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is composed 
     solely of recipients of the Medal of Honor.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SITES.

       (a) Recognition.--The following sites to honor recipients 
     of the Medal of Honor are hereby recognized as National Medal 
     of Honor sites:
       (1) Riverside, california.--The memorial under construction 
     at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California, 
     to be dedicated on November 5, 1999.
       (2) Indianapolis, indiana.--The memorial at the White River 
     State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, dedicated on May 28, 
     1999.
       (3) Mount pleasant, south carolina.--The Congressional 
     Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, 
     South Carolina, currently situated on the U.S.S. Yorktown.
       (b) Interpretation.--This section may not be construed to 
     require or permit the expenditure of Federal funds (other 
     that expenditures already provided for) for any purpose 
     related to the sites recognized in subsection (a).
                                 ______