[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 85 (Monday, June 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3834-H3836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            DESIGNATING OFFICIAL FLAG OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR

  Mr. SCHROCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 95) designating an official flag of the 
Medal of Honor and providing for presentation of that flag to each 
recipient of that Medal of Honor, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 95

       Whereas the Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor 
     in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon 
     an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the Medal of Honor was established by Congress 
     during the Civil War to recognize soldiers who had 
     distinguished themselves by gallantry in action;
       Whereas the Medal of Honor was conceived by Senator James 
     Grimes of the State of Iowa in 1861; and
       Whereas the Medal of Honor is the Nation's highest military 
     honor, awarded for acts of personal bravery or self-sacrifice 
     above and beyond the call of duty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF MEDAL OF HONOR FLAG.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 903. Designation of Medal of Honor Flag

       ``(a) Designation.--The Secretary of Defense shall design 
     and designate a flag as the Medal of Honor Flag. In selecting 
     the design for the flag, the Secretary shall consider designs 
     submitted by the general public.
       ``(b) Presentation.--The Medal of Honor Flag shall be 
     presented as specified in sections 3755, 6257, and 8755 of 
     title 10 and section 505 of title 14.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``903. Designation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.

     SEC. 2. PRESENTATION OF FLAG TO MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.

       (a) Army.--(1) Chapter 357 of title 10, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 3755. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor 
       Flag

       ``The President shall provide for the presentation of the 
     Medal of Honor Flag designated under section 903 of title 36 
     to each person to whom a medal of honor is awarded under 
     section 3741 of this title after the date of the enactment of 
     this section. Presentation of the flag shall be made at the 
     same time as the presentation of the medal under section 3741 
     or 3752(a) of this title.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``3755. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.
       (b) Navy and Marine Corps.--(1) Chapter 567 of such title 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 6257. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor 
       Flag

       ``The President shall provide for the presentation of the 
     Medal of Honor Flag designated under section 903 of title 36 
     to each person to whom a medal of honor is awarded under 
     section 6241 of this title after the date of the enactment of 
     this section. Presentation of the flag shall be made at the 
     same

[[Page H3835]]

     time as the presentation of the medal under section 6241 or 
     6250 of this title.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``6257. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.
       (c) Air Force.--(1) Chapter 857 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 8755. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor 
       Flag

       ``The President shall provide for the presentation of the 
     Medal of Honor Flag designated under section 903 of title 36 
     to each person to whom a medal of honor is awarded under 
     section 8741 of this title after the date of the enactment of 
     this section. Presentation of the flag shall be made at the 
     same time as the presentation of the medal under section 8741 
     or 8752(a) of this title.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``8755. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.
       (d) Coast Guard.--(1) Chapter 13 of title 14, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 504 the following 
     new section:

     ``Sec. 505. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor 
       Flag

       ``The President shall provide for the presentation of the 
     Medal of Honor Flag designated under section 903 of title 36 
     to each person to whom a medal of honor is awarded under 
     section 491 of this title after the date of the enactment of 
     this section. Presentation of the flag shall be made at the 
     same time as the presentation of the medal under section 491 
     or 498 of this title.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
     504 the following new item:

``505. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.
       (e) Prior Recipients.--The President shall provide for the 
     presentation of the Medal of Honor Flag designated under 
     section 903 of title 36, United States Code, as added by 
     section 1(a), to each person awarded the Medal of Honor 
     before the date of the enactment of this resolution who is 
     living as of that date. Such presentation shall be made as 
     expeditiously as possible after the date of the designation 
     of the Medal of Honor Flag by the Secretary of Defense under 
     such section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Schrock) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Schrock).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCHROCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. J. Res. 95, the joint resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCHROCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Latham).
  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to inquire, would it be 
appropriate to recognize the fact that the designer of this flag, Bill 
Kendall, from Jefferson, Iowa, is in the gallery?


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is reminded not to refer to 
visitors in the gallery.
  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, then I shall not refer to the fact that he 
is in the gallery.
  Mr. Speaker, the Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest award for 
bravery, is a true representation of the best in the American spirit. 
Requiring eyewitness accounts of gallantry, at selfless mortal risk, 
and so far above the call of duty as to be beyond reproach should such 
action not have been undertaken, recipients of this award are surely 
those for whom the Star Spangled Banner was written; these are the 
people who make our country the Land of the Free and the Home of the 
Brave. I believe that these worthy individuals are deserving of a 
significant and continuous public display and believe that a flag is a 
fitting way to honor our heroes.
  As an Iowan, I am proud to continue the tradition of honoring those 
who have distinguished themselves in battle.
  On December 9, 1861, Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced S. No. 
82 in the United States Senate, a bill designed to promote the 
efficiency of the Navy by authorizing the production and distribution 
of medals of honor. On December 21, the bill was passed, authorizing 
200 such medals be produced ``which shall be bestowed upon such petty 
officers, seamen, landsmen and marines as shall distinguish themselves 
by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the 
present war,'' referring to the Civil War at that time.
  Mr. Speaker, 2 months later on February 17, 1862, Massachusetts 
Senator Henry Wilson introduced a bill to authorize an Army Medal of 
Honor. President Lincoln signed the bill on July 14, 1862; and the 
nonservice specific Medal of Honor was born at that time.
  Originally, the Medal of Honor was only to be presented to enlisted 
men, but on March 3, 1863, this was extended to officers as well.
  The last action in which the Medal of Honor was awarded was in 
Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 3, 1993.
  There have been 3,459 Medals of Honor awarded for 3,453 separate acts 
of heroism performed by 3,439 individuals, including 9 of which were 
unknown; and today there are 143 living recipients of the Medal of 
Honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of Sergeant Bill Kendall for designing 
this flag. He has worked very, very hard to make sure that these folks 
who have given so much for our country, many times making the supreme 
sacrifice for the Nation, are so honored. The intention is to have this 
flag available for their families, for communities who want to honor 
Medal of Honor recipients so they can continue to show the type of 
respect for these recipients that is so well deserved.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that the House today will move on a unanimous 
basis to have a flag of honor for the Medal of Honor winners. This 
design is something that Mr. Kendall came up with. It is, I think, 
extremely well done. We are very, very proud of Mr. Kendall for all his 
work on this effort.
  Obviously, the Department of Defense may make some changes as to 
exactly how they believe the final flag should look. But the need for 
this is real, for the families, for those individuals who are living 
today that are Medal of Honor winners; and for the communities to show 
their pride and respect for these individuals is, in fact, proper.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that we can move this bill today.

                              {time}  1815

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 95, which 
would designate an official flag of the Medal of Honor and provide for 
its presentation to each recipient of the Medal of Honor. The Medal of 
Honor is our Nation's highest military award for valor that can be 
bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United 
States.
  The existence of the Medal of Honor began back in 1861 when Iowa 
Senator James W. Grimes introduced a bill that authorized the 
production and distribution of medals of honor to be bestowed upon 
petty officers, seamen, landsmen and Marines as shall distinguish 
themselves by their gallantry in action. President Abraham Lincoln 
signed the bill and the Navy Medal of Honor was born. The next year, 
1862, a similar bill for an Army Medal of Honor was introduced and 
signed into law. The Air Force did not receive its own version of the 
Medal of Honor until 1965. Until then, Air Force recipients were 
awarded the Army Medal of Honor.
  It was not until 1963 that Congress established guidelines for 
awarding the Medal of Honor. The medal can only be awarded for action 
against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military 
operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while 
serving with friendly forces in an armed conflict in which the United 
States is not a belligerent party.
  The first Medal of Honor was presented to Private Jacob Parrott, one 
of six men who were awarded the medal for their action in the great 
locomotive chase in April 1862. Since then, there have been 3,458 
Medals of Honor awarded for 3,453 separate acts of heroism performed by 
3,439 individuals. Nineteen service members have received the Medal of 
Honor twice.
  Mr. Speaker, as thousands of our men and women in uniform continue 
their efforts in the war against terrorism, it is only fitting that we 
recognize those

[[Page H3836]]

who have performed acts of bravery or self-sacrifice above and beyond 
the call to duty. An official flag to be presented to our Nation's 
Medal of Honor recipients is only fitting. I urge my colleagues to 
support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHROCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McHugh).
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Virginia, a 
very distinguished member of the Committee on Armed Services, yielding 
time to me. I particularly want to pay my compliments to the gentleman 
from Iowa (Mr. Latham) for advancing this very important initiative.
  Mr. Speaker, for the last 2 years now, it has been my honor to serve 
as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Committee on 
Armed Services. Our main responsibility on that body is to ensure that 
we do all that we can to provide for those brave men and women who 
serve this Nation so valiantly and with no hesitation as members of our 
armed services. We take that responsibility very, very seriously. This 
bill was originally under our jurisdiction; but thanks to the gentleman 
from Iowa's very hard work, we were pleased to waive jurisdiction to do 
everything we could on that committee, the committee that has primary 
responsibility for our armed services, so that it could move as 
expeditiously as possible to the House floor for its consideration here 
today. I certainly join with those who have spoken here previously in 
underscoring what I believe, as well, is the importance of this 
initiative and the very important significance that stands behind it.
  I think it is difficult for any of us as Americans to look back on 
September 11 and to discern much that is positive, but certainly one of 
the more positive attributes of that has been the reaffirmation in the 
minds of, I have to believe, every American of the heroes that have 
served in this Nation's military and who continue to serve today. And 
no matter which branch of the service they may choose to contribute to, 
no matter what era they may have served in, as we have learned and been 
reminded of so very importantly since September 11, these are truly men 
and women who deserve our respect and who earn our honor in such 
extraordinary ways.
  But amongst all those heroes in our military are those who 
distinguish themselves to an even higher degree. As we have heard the 
illustrious history of the Medal of Honor, it is one that I think is 
reward in itself. Clearly the medal that is presented to those and has 
been presented to those 3,439 individuals in our Nation's history 
deserves an even added amount of respect. But for all of the symbolism, 
for all of the appreciation that lies behind the medal, I think that 
there is more we can and should do. Certainly the designation of this 
flag as an official token, as an official representation in addition to 
the medal, would be, in my judgment, a very, very fitting action.
  I understand the House rules and I will not acknowledge that Sergeant 
Bill Kendall is in the gallery here today, but I certainly want to 
extend our appreciation collectively on behalf of the House, if I may 
be so presumptuous, for taking up this initiative and for the designing 
of what I certainly look upon as a very, very fitting tribute, one that 
can add to the honor that we feel toward these very, very special 
individuals. And as the gentleman from Iowa suggested, I think so 
correctly, one that can carry forward with their family members, with 
their descendants, to be displayed in those ways that can signify how a 
loved one, a family member, someone they knew, contributed above and 
beyond the call of duty.
  It is really a rare opportunity in this House, Mr. Speaker, that we 
have the chance to do something that on the surface may seem relatively 
simple, but I think beneath it all carries such great significance. 
Both as a member of the Committee on Armed Services but more 
importantly as an American, I think this is a very, very special 
initiative and like the speakers before, I certainly urge all of our 
colleagues to join in supporting it and giving it the unanimous 
approval on the upcoming vote that it deserves.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank again the gentleman from Iowa for taking this 
initiative and for working so hard to make this moment a reality.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be part of 
this presentation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHROCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution sponsored by 
the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham). As we continue our struggle 
against terrorism, my thoughts, and I am certain the thoughts of many 
Americans, turn to the military men and women on the front lines. Their 
commitment and courage never fail to inspire me and lift my spirits. 
America is justifiably proud of the wonderful people serving our Nation 
in uniform. Among the brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and 
Coast Guardsmen who have served over our Nation's history, there is a 
special group of heroes who have through their selfless deeds and 
sacrifices demonstrated the highest level of gallantry. I am referring 
to those members who have been awarded the Congressional Medal of 
Honor.
  Mr. Speaker, the standards for award of the Medal of Honor leave 
little doubt about the remarkable nature of the heroic acts involved. 
The heroic deed of the person must be proven by incontestable evidence 
to be so outstanding as to clearly distinguish it as being beyond the 
call of duty. The heroism must involve the risk of the person's life, 
and it must be of the type of deed that, if the person had not done it, 
would not subject the person to any justified criticism. Only one has 
to read the citations that accompany the medals to appreciate the 
incredible devotion to comrades and country that is indicative of each 
recipient.
  This resolution would provide an additional honor to every recipient 
of the Medal of Honor by creating a Medal of Honor flag to be presented 
to the recipients. The Medal of Honor flag will also be a symbol to all 
who see it of the great strength and courage that resides within the 
American spirit.
  Mr. Speaker, today as our Nation faces many difficult days ahead, we 
need this type of symbol to remind us that even ordinary people are 
capable of great deeds when freedom is threatened. For these reasons, I 
am proud to join the gentleman from Iowa in this resolution and urge my 
colleagues to support its adoption.
  Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my voice of support 
for House Joint Resolution 95, designating an official flag for the 
Medal of Honor. Since the Civil War, American soldiers who distinguish 
themselves in defense of our nation have been honored with the Medal of 
Honor. In fact, it was at the suggestion of Iowa Senator James Grimes, 
in 1861, that the Medal of Honor was created. All members of our armed 
forces are patriots, but the 3,458 soldiers who have received this 
honor have gone far above and beyond the call of duty. In defense of 
our nation, they have risked or given up their lives, so that so many 
can live freely as Americans. In this time of war, as the veterans of 
the future selflessly defend American freedom and values in the far 
corners of the world, it is appropriate to move a step further to 
designate a special flag for Medal of Honor recipients. Its 
simplicity--thirteen white stars on a blue field, just like the medal 
it accompanies--allows us all to remember the tremendous cost that a 
small number of soldiers have paid to ensure our freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Schrock) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 95, as 
amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________