[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 170 (Monday, November 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6035-H6036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MARK OUR PLACE ACT
Mr. FRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(S. 3126) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish or replace a headstone,
marker, or medallion for the grave of an eligible Medal of Honor
recipient, regardless of the recipient's dates of service in the Armed
Forces, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 3126
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 ``Mark Our Place Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED
HEADSTONE, MARKER, OR MEDALLION FOR MEDAL OF
HONOR RECIPIENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 2306(d)(5)(C) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking clause (i);
[[Page H6036]]
(2) in clause (ii), by inserting ``(except that
subparagraph (B)(i) of such paragraph shall not apply)''
after ``paragraph (4)''; and
(3) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i)
and (ii), respectively.
(b) Technical Correction.--Section 2306(d)(5) of such title
is amended by striking ``section 491'' both places it appears
and inserting ``section 2732''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
S. 3126.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3126. This bill was
introduced by Senator Braun.
I thank my friend, Representative Luttrell, who is the chairman of
the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for
leading the House companion bill to this important bill.
The Mark Our Place Act would ensure that every Medal of Honor
recipient is properly honored where they have been laid to rest.
Under current law, only Medal of Honor recipients who served on or
after April 6, 1917, can receive a headstone, grave marker, or
medallion that reflects the Medal of Honor status. S. 3126 would remove
that unjust date limitation.
It should go without saying that every Medal of Honor recipient's
story of service should be displayed on their headstone should their
family wish to do so.
The Medal of Honor is our Nation's highest military award. It is
reserved for servicemembers who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery
and self-sacrifice in combat. Over 2,000 servicemembers were awarded
Medals of Honor before April 6, 1917, and this bill would ensure that
they are all recognized for their bravery.
Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 3126, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3126, the Mark Our Place
Act. I thank Senator Mike Braun for introducing this bill and
Representative Morgan Luttrell for introducing the House companion.
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish a
headstone, marker, or medallion signifying the status of a deceased
member of the Armed Forces as a Medal of Honor recipient regardless of
when the member served.
In spite of what the President-elect may think, the Medal of Honor is
the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can
be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the
United States. Since 1976, VA has provided distinctive government-
furnished headstones and markers for Medal of Honor recipients to
recognize this prestigious honor.
Under current law, only Medal of Honor recipients who served after
1917 are eligible for such markers, meaning many recipients,
principally from the Civil War era, have not been able to receive the
full array of honors from VA. This will remedy that situation and allow
descendants of those recipients who served prior to 1917 to request
appropriate markers to honor their loved ones.
Madam Speaker, I support this legislation, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Luttrell), who is my good friend and the chairman of the
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.
Mr. LUTTRELL. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Bost for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I am honored to be here today to speak on S. 3126, the
Mark Our Place Act. I was proud to lead the House companion bill, H.R.
6507.
Under current law, VA is authorized to furnish or replace a
headstone, grave marker, or medallion for only those Medal of Honor
recipients who served on or after April 6, 1917.
The Mark Our Place Act would remove unnecessary red tape that
prohibits VA from providing headstones with Medal of Honor markers to
veterans buried in private cemeteries.
These veterans have risked everything to protect our freedoms, and
honoring their service and sacrifice should be timeless. We must ensure
that every recipient of our Nation's highest military decoration is
recognized for their heroism.
Madam Speaker, I thank Senator Braun, Chairman Bost, and Ranking
Member Takano for their leadership, and I urge my colleagues to support
S. 3126.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers.
In closing, Madam Speaker, I support S. 3126, the Mark Our Place Act,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers.
Madam Speaker, I encourage Members 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
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 3126.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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