Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 12 (Tuesday, January 21, 2025)

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 21, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H237-H238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

HERSHEL ``WOODY'' WILLIAMS NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MONUMENT LOCATION
ACT

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 186) to authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum
Foundation to establish a commemorative work on the National Mall to
honor the extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice
displayed by Medal of Honor recipients.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 186

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 ``Hershel `Woody' Williams
National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Congress in 2021 unanimously passed, and the President
signed, Public Law 117-80 (40 U.S.C. 8903 note), which
authorized the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to
establish on Federal land in the District of Columbia a
commemorative work to honor the acts of valor, selfless
service, and sacrifice displayed by Medal of Honor
recipients.
(2) The Medal of Honor was established by President Abraham
Lincoln and first awarded 160 years ago on March 25, 1863,
and is part of Lincoln's lasting and living legacy.
(3) In 1991, during the administration of President George
H.W. Bush, this legacy was extended further when National
Medal of Honor Day was established as March 25th of each
year.
(4) The Medal of Honor is awarded to all branches of the
United States Armed Forces as our nation's highest
recognition for valor in combat.
(5) The number of living Medal of Honor recipients has been
steadily declining, making it even more crucial to honor and
recognize their heroic sacrifices and inspire future
generations.
(6) Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, the last World War II Medal
of Honor recipient, passed away in 2022 and laid in honor at
the United States Capitol.
(7) The Medal of Honor represents the very best of our
Nation--ordinary citizens, who took extraordinary action
above and beyond the call of duty and became heroes of our
Republic.
(8) These examples inspire all citizens and ignite within
us the very spirit of America.
(9) The Medal of Honor rises to the level of supreme
national and historical importance necessary to warrant
representation on the National Mall.
(10) Locating the National Medal of Honor Monument in close
proximity to the Lincoln Memorial within the Reserve would be
a respectful extension of his enduring legacy and recognition
of what ordinary people can accomplish when working for the
greater good.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MONUMENT LOCATION.

(a) Site.--Notwithstanding section 8908(c) of title 40,
United States Code, the commemorative work authorized by
section 1(a) of Public Law 117-80 (40 U.S.C. 8903 note) shall
be located within the Reserve (as defined in section 8902(a)
of title 40, United States Code).
(b) Applicability of Commemorative Works Act.--Except as
provided in subsection (a), chapter 89 of title 40, United
States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works
Act''), shall apply to the commemorative work.

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

General Leave

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam 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 H.R. 186, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, as we approach the 250th celebration of our Nation
next year, there is perhaps no greater way to celebrate our history
than passing H.R. 186, which honors the valor and sacrifice of some of
our Nation's bravest heroes, Medal of Honor recipients.
Madam Speaker, 162 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln awarded the
first Medal of Honor in the midst of the Civil War. It remains our
Nation's highest honor awarded to members of the Armed Forces and is
bestowed sparingly to only those who have demonstrated the highest acts
of valor. Less than 70 Medal of Honor recipients are alive today out of
the more than 3,500 medals that have been awarded.
As the highest and most prestigious military decoration in the United
States, the Medal of Honor symbolizes extraordinary acts of bravery,
selflessness, and sacrifice beyond the call of duty.

{time} 1415

Madam Speaker, by recognizing these remarkable individuals, the Medal
of Honor inspires a sense of national pride, honors the memory of
fallen heroes, and motivates future generations to embody the values of
courage and honor.
The Medal of Honor continues to instill a profound sense of respect
and gratitude for the sacrifices made in the defense of freedom and
justice.
Congressman Moore's bipartisan bill, the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams
National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, will ensure that the
monument honoring these brave heroes can be placed on what is known as
the Reserve but is commonly referred to as ``The National Mall'' here
in Washington, D.C.
A monument honoring our most exceptional citizens should be placed in
an equally exceptional location. According to National Park Service
data, The National Mall receives upward of 25 million visitors each
year. The monuments and memorials located on The National Mall are the
centerpiece of this history, and it is appropriate to include a new
monument honoring veterans who have displayed the most courageous acts
of valor recognized by our country.

[[Page H238]]

In my home State of Arkansas, our State capital also has a memorial
dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients. I hope the monument in D.C.,
like the one in Arkansas, can inspire reflection, patriotism, and
gratitude for our Nation's military heroes.
Last Congress, the Committee on Natural Resources had the privilege
of hearing from one of the 61 living Medal of Honor recipients, Master
Chief Special Warfare Operator Britt Slabinski. In his inspiring
testimony, he reminded us the Medal of Honor represents those willing
to go above and beyond in any circumstance, no matter how small.
This monument will serve as an everlasting reminder of this country's
greatness and the difference that one single person can make. The
legislation before us today, H.R. 186, would authorize the location of
the National Medal of Honor Memorial in a prominent location on The
National Mall, with the intent to keep it near the Lincoln Memorial as
President Lincoln was the first to give out this special award.
I was proud to support the original legislation authorizing this
memorial. I am proud to support this subsequent legislation today.
Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Moore for his leadership. I urge
my colleague to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I agree with the chairman. The Medal of Honor is the
highest military decoration. It is awarded to brave individuals whose
extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice exceed the
call of duty.
In 2021, Congress authorized establishing a National Medal of Honor
Monument to honor over 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients from the Army,
Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, ensuring that their
courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment
are shared for generations to come.
The bill before us today would allow for this memorial to be placed
on The National Mall in close proximity to the Lincoln Memorial. That
is appropriate, and Democrats support it.
In December of 1861, as the first brutal year of the Civil War came
to an end, President Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the Medal of
Honor recipients. I think it is appropriate to place this memorial in
the footprint of the Lincoln Memorial as a fitting tribute to that
legacy.
I thank Representatives Moore and Veasey for their collaboration and
leadership on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Before moving on, I do want to mention that there are growing demands
on The National Mall. In 2003, Congress declared The National Mall a
completed work of civic art and prohibited future construction of new
memorials and monuments in the core area known as the Reserve. As we
all know, Congress changes its mind. Since then, it has agreed to
authorize the placement of several new memorials and for good reason.
Just last month we approved the Women's Suffrage National Monument
sponsored by Representative Neguse. That new memorial will ensure that
women's stories are better reflected, filling an important gap that
perhaps was not considered when Congress established the Reserve 20-
plus years ago.
The National Medal of Honor Monument is another fitting tribute that
deserves a place on The National Mall. We need to be clear-eyed about
the future of The National Mall. I hope that this is a conversation we
can have this Congress so that we can continue to make the best
decisions about what has been dubbed America's front yard, one of the
most visited and revered units of the National Park System.
Madam Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Moore), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and the
ranking member for the time.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Hershel ``Woody''
Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act. This bill,
which passed the House unanimously during the 118th Congress, is the
final legislative step to establish a location for a monument
recognizing America's Medal of Honor recipients on The National Mall.
Of the estimated 40 million individuals who have served in the United
States Armed Services, fewer than 4,000 have been awarded the Medal of
Honor.
President Abraham Lincoln awarded the first Medals of Honor more than
160 years ago, and it is only fitting that this monument is located
near the Lincoln Memorial on The National Mall.
This monument will serve as a reminder that freedom is not free, and
it will inspire new generations of Americans to revere and support the
brave men and women who we owe our freedom to.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 186 to give
America's heroes and their families a monument for their sacrifices for
our Nation.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his hard work
on this legislation. I thank the gentleman from California and the
minority for supporting it, as well.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I note that this bill has been named after Hershel
``Woody'' Williams who, sadly, passed away in June of 2022. He was
known for his extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima in World
War II. At the young age of 21, he single-handedly cleared a path for
American troops against Japanese forces in an act of extraordinary
bravery.
This is a good bill that honors Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, our
Nation's heroic Medal of Honor recipients, and all those who have
served. It honors their memory, remembers their legacy, and reaffirms
our unwavering commitment to upholding the principles for which they
fought so valiantly.
Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 186.
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. WESTERMAN. Madam 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, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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