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National Medal of Honor Highway

Floor Speech

Date: Dec. 9, 2024
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of my legislation that would designate U.S. Highway 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway.''

U.S. Route 20 is America's longest continuous highway, spanning more than 3,000 miles from coast to coast, from Massachusetts to Oregon and across our great country, including through my district in Erie County, Pennsylvania.

This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is critical as it would commemorate all 3,519 recipients of the Medal of Honor award both living and deceased.

The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest military award for valor. The Medal of Honor recognizes the extraordinary sacrifice, courage, and devotion exhibited by every single recipient of the award. We owe them a debt we can never repay.

Redesignating U.S. Route 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'' would honor each State's current and future Medal of Honor recipients and recipients from any State who travel on the highway.

Legislatures and Governors in all 12 States along U.S. Route 20 have designated their State ``Medal of Honor'' highways covering 100 percent of the 3,365 miles across America. The 12 States along U.S. Highway 20 account for about 62 percent of all Medal of Honor recipients since the Civil War.

The legislation is supported by The American Legion, the Legion of Valor, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, and other organizations.

It is my sincere hope that the millions of Americans who travel the highway each year from Bend, Oregon; to Chicago, Illinois; to Erie, Pennsylvania; and to Boston, Massachusetts, will take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary sacrifice, courage, and devotion exhibited by every single Medal of Honor recipient. Designating this highway is just one way we can cement their legacy in American history.

I thank Senator Wyden for partnering and advocating for this bill in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill in honoring all of our Nation's brave servicemembers who have received the Medal of Honor.

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