Hershel ``woody'' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams National Monument Location Act.
First, I give a very sincere thank you to the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and the ranking member for expeditiously working to get this bill through, in addition to in years past when we got the National Medal of Honor memorialized and approved as well. This has been an amazing thing to be part of, and these two gentlemen have been very helpful. Also, as a third voice to concur, the Senate should pass a lot more House bills. They should realize how good of work we do over here.
Mr. Speaker, as America celebrates our 250th year, it is only fitting that we recognize the sacrifices made that allow us the freedoms that we have today.
Over 40 million Americans have served in the U.S. Armed Forces since the Civil War, but fewer than 4,000 have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
This award not only commemorates the bravery of those who earn it, but it also honors their humanity, patriotism, and sacrifice for the United States and her people.
I think President Harry S. Truman put it best when he said: ``We do not go to war for gain or territory. We go to war for principles, and we produce young men like these. . . . I would rather have that medal . . . than be President of the United States.''
Placing a monument to Medal of Honor recipients on The National Mall was one of the first initiatives I worked on when I came to Congress nearly 6 years ago. First, we authorized a Medal of Honor monument here in Washington, D.C., and that bill passed Congress and was signed into law in December of 2021.
This legislation is the next and final step to giving our heroes and their families the commemoration they deserve.
I am grateful to my friend from Texas (Mr. Veasey) for working on both bills with me.
If today's bill looks familiar, it should. A version of S. 858 was one of the first bills that passed the House in the 119th Congress, and it passed by a vote of 414-0.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill again and join me in thanking our Medal of Honor recipients for their patriotism, sacrifice, and example.
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