[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 130 (Monday, July 26, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3861-H3862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1664) to authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum 
Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of 
Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1664

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.

       (a) In General.--The National Medal of Honor Museum 
     Foundation may establish a commemorative work on Federal land 
     in the District of Columbia and its environs to honor the 
     extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice 
     displayed by Medal of Honor recipients.
       (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The 
     establishment of the commemorative work under this section 
     shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United 
     States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works 
     Act'').
       (c) Prohibition on the Use of Federal Funds.--
       (1) In general.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any 
     expense of the establishment of the commemorative work under 
     this section.
       (2) Responsibility of the national medal of honor museum 
     foundation.--The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation 
     shall be solely responsible for acceptance of contributions 
     for, and payment of the expenses of, the establishment of the 
     commemorative work under this section.
       (d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--
       (1) In general.--If, on payment of all expenses for the 
     establishment of the commemorative work under this section 
     (including the maintenance and preservation amount required 
     by section 8906(b)(1) of title 40, United States Code), there 
     remains a balance of funds received for the establishment of 
     the commemorative work, the National Medal of Honor Museum 
     Foundation shall transmit the amount of the balance to the 
     Secretary of the Interior for deposit in the account provided 
     for in section 8906(b)(3) of that title.
       (2) On expiration of authority.--If, on expiration of the 
     authority for the commemorative work under section 8903(e) of 
     title 40, United States Code, there remains a balance of 
     funds received for the establishment of the commemorative 
     work under this section, the National Medal of Honor Museum 
     Foundation shall transmit the amount of the balance to a 
     separate account with the National Park Foundation for 
     memorials, to be available to the Secretary of the Interior 
     or the Administrator of General Services, as appropriate, in 
     accordance with the process provided in paragraph (4) of 
     section 8906(b) of that title for accounts established under 
     paragraph (2) or (3) of that section.

     SEC. 2. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. 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 the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1664, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Veasey), would authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation 
to establish a monument in the District of Columbia commemorating the 
extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed 
by the Medal of Honor recipients.
  The Medal of Honor is our country's highest military decoration, and 
since its creation during the Civil War, the medal has been awarded to 
more than 3,500 members of the armed services.
  This bill would honor the unparalleled bravery and sacrifices of 
Medal of Honor recipients and ensure that the medal's values of 
courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment 
are shared for generations to come.
  I would like to thank Representative Veasey for his leadership on 
this important legislation and urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 1664, offered by Congressman Veasey, would authorize the 
National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative 
work on Federal land in the D.C. area to recognize Medal of Honor 
recipients.
  The Medal of Honor is our Nation's highest medal for valor in combat 
awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The medal was first 
authorized in 1861 for U.S. Navy sailors and marines, and the following 
year for Army soldiers. Since then more than 3,500 Medals of Honor have 
been awarded to members of all Department of Defense services and the 
Coast Guard. Medals of Honor are awarded sparingly and only bestowed on 
the bravest of the brave whose courage and valor in combat is well 
documented.
  According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, at least 10 
Arkansans have been awarded the Medal of Honor since its inception. 
This includes John Henry Pruitt, an Arkansan who is one of only 19 
soldiers to ever be awarded the Medal of Honor twice. Our State Capitol 
in Little Rock also boasts its own Medal of Honor Memorial, which 
depicts a bronze eagle surrounded by plaques honoring each individual 
Medal of Honor recipient from Arkansas.
  I would like to thank Congressman Veasey and Congressman Blake Moore 
of Utah, a freshman on our committee, for their leadership on this 
important bipartisan bill. I urge adoption of the measure, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Veasey).
  Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to urge my colleagues to pass 
the National Medal of Honor Monument Act. This is bipartisan 
legislation, as was mentioned, that I introduced with Representative 
Moore of Utah.
  This bill honors our Nation's brave servicemembers by paving the way 
for the creation of a monument in our Nation's Capital recognizing the 
Medal of Honor and its more than 3,500 recipients.
  Our Nation's Medal of Honor recipients are patriots. They have put 
their lives on the line to ensure we can live freely and prosperously 
in the greatest nation on Earth. That is why I am happy to have 
spearheaded this from the beginning and pay homage to the values the 
Medal of Honor represents--courage, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, 
commitment, and sacrifice--and the brave individuals who earned it in 
service to our country.
  The National Medal of Honor Museum will actually open in my district 
in Arlington, Texas, in the next few years, and it will also serve as a 
beacon for these values.
  My hope is that we are able to pass this legislation to honor these 
individuals because this is a very, very prestigious award for our 
Nation's veterans and for those that have sacrificed. We want to make 
sure that we do everything we can to rally around this and honor the 
bravest individuals who serve in our country by having a monument here 
in Washington, D.C.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill and strongly

[[Page H3862]]

support creating this memorial, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, my colleague said it well. I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1664, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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