Hershel ``woody'' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act

Floor Speech

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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.

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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