Medal of Honor Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 695, the Medal of Honor Act.

To join the armed services is an act of profound selflessness. On the Veterans' Affairs Committee, we recognize the sacrifice and service of every servicemember who, in the face of uncertainty and danger, took the oath and chose to commit themselves to a higher purpose.

While every individual servicemember makes sacrifices and dedicates themselves to this path of honor, there are a select few who distinguish themselves from the rest.

The Medal of Honor cannot be won. It must be earned through extreme selflessness and bravery. We recognize this distinguished service with our Nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor.

From the first awardee to the most recent, Medal of Honor recipients have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to serve above and beyond the call of duty, even to their own death.

There have been 43 Kentuckians who were awarded the Medal of Honor. I will just talk about one, Sergeant John C. Squires, a Louisville native who went from Male High School to the United States Army and served in Italy in World War II.

It was in April of 1944, in the Italian countryside, that Squires braved automatic gunfire, artillery, and mortar fire to carry messages through barbed wire and over minefields, to organize troops, and bring reinforcements to the front line. With total disregard for his own well-being, he fought German soldiers day and night.

He was killed in action. He lies in rest at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, and a bronze statue of Squires sits atop the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial.

Squires is one of just 3,538 Medal of Honor recipients in our history. From all who have been awarded, for all of those who earned this honor, they do so through the acts of service that are incredible.

There is no paycheck that could repay their sacrifice and no thank- you letter that could truly convey our Nation's gratitude. We cannot ever hope to repay this debt, but we can show our fullest support for them and their surviving spouses and families by increasing their annual compensation.

The Medal of Honor Act ensures that servicemembers and their surviving spouses get an increased pension for their sacrifice, an increase that properly reflects the gravity of their service.

Currently, the payment of $1,619.34 a month is deeply inadequate. Medal of Honor recipients go above and beyond the call of duty. It is only right that we honor their sacrifice with compensation that truly reflects their extraordinary actions.

These heroes continue to serve, speaking throughout the country and inspiring our citizens in schools and beyond. They continue to carry the mantle of courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment here at home.

There is nothing we can pay them that will ever match their sacrifice, but voting for this act is a step toward recognizing their service, courage, and enduring legacy. It is about showing them not just with words but with action that they are seen and valued and that they will never ever be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 695.
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Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 695, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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