Authorization to Establish Commemorative Work

Floor Speech

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.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill and strongly support creating this memorial, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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