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House of Representatives

Hershel "Woody" Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act

2026-08-31 Issue 137 Showing 1–6 of 6

Official Congressional Record ↗

Bruce Westerman

Republican

“I want this bill to pass so we can build a monument for Medal of Honor winners. It will honor their service and sacrifice.”

Bruce Westerman

Republican

“I want this bill to pass so we can build a monument for Medal of Honor winners on the National Mall. It will honor their service and sacrifice. Many people visit the National Mall. A monument for these heroes should be in a special place. I want it near the Lincoln Memorial. The Senate changed the bill. I don't like that. I want the monument near the Lincoln Memorial. I want to work with others to make that happen. I want my colleagues to support this bill.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as Americans across the country celebrate our Nation's 250th anniversary this year, it is important to recognize that none of this would be possible without the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces. That is why the consideration of S. 858 is especially timely today, as it honors the valor and sacrifice of some of our Nation's bravest heroes: Medal of Honor recipients. Mr. Speaker, 163 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln awarded the first Medal of Honor in the midst of the Civil War. It remains our Nation's highest honor awarded to members of the Armed Forces and is bestowed sparingly on only those who have demonstrated the highest acts of valor. Fewer than 70 Medal of Honor recipients are alive today out of the more than 3,500 medals that have been awarded. As the highest and most prestigious military decoration in the United States, the Medal of Honor symbolizes extraordinary acts of bravery, selflessness, and sacrifice beyond the call of duty. By recognizing these remarkable individuals, the Medal of Honor inspires national pride, honors the memory of fallen heroes, and motivates future generations to embody the values of courage and honor. The Medal of Honor continues to symbolize the American people's profound respect and gratitude for the sacrifices recipients have made defending freedom and justice. The Hershel ``Woody'' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act would ensure that the monument honoring these brave heroes can be placed on what is known as the Reserve, which is commonly referred to as The National Mall here in Washington, D.C. A monument honoring our most exceptional military heroes deserves an equally exceptional location. According to National Park Service data, The National Mall receives upward of 25 million visitors each year. The monuments and memorials located on The National Mall are the centerpiece of this history, and it is appropriate to include a new monument honoring veterans who have displayed the most courageous acts of valor recognized by our country. In my home State of Arkansas, our State capital also has a memorial dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients. I hope the monument in D.C., like the one in Arkansas, can inspire reflection, patriotism, and gratitude for our Nation's military heroes. Last Congress, the Committee on Natural Resources had the privilege of hearing from one of the 65 living Medal of Honor recipients, Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Britt Slabinski. In his inspiring testimony, he reminded us that the Medal of Honor represents those willing to go above and beyond in any circumstance, no matter how small. This monument will serve as an everlasting reminder of this country's greatness and the difference that one single person can make. As an example of the difference one singular person can make on the course of history, I note that this bill has been named after Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, who, sadly, passed away in June 2022. He was known for his extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima during the Second World War. At the age of 21, he singlehandedly cleared a path for American troops against Japanese forces in an act of extraordinary bravery. The House has already passed this bill unanimously this Congress. It is an honor to do so again today and send it to President Trump's desk. As part of its consideration, the Senate made an unfortunate change to this legislation. It removed a portion of the findings section that expressed the sense of Congress that the Medal of Honor monument should be located near the Lincoln Memorial in recognition of President Lincoln's unique and integral role in the history of the Medal of Honor. While this section has been removed, Congress and living Medal of Honor recipients still overwhelmingly support locating this monument near the Lincoln Memorial. I look forward to working with the Trump administration to ensure such a location is ultimately chosen. I was proud to support the original legislation authorizing this memorial, and I am proud to support this legislation today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore) for his leadership on the House companion to this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Jared Huffman

Democrat

“I want this bill to pass to build a monument for Medal of Honor winners. It should be near the Lincoln Memorial. I don't like that the Senate changed the bill. I want my colleagues to support this bill. The government should not build monuments without permission from Congress. I don't like that the government is building an arch for Trump. That is against the law. People have other problems like high prices. I want my colleagues to stop the government from breaking the law. This bill is good. It follows the law for building monuments.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded to brave individuals whose extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice exceed the call of duty. In 2021, Congress authorized the placement of a National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington, D.C., to honor all of the Medal of Honor recipients from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. As a next step, this bill we are considering will ensure the memorial is located next to the Lincoln Memorial in the shadow of a President who created the Medal of Honor during the first year of the Civil War. It is a privilege to speak on this bill. Medal of Honor recipients deserve recognition in the heart of our Nation's Capital. I do note, however, that this is not the first time legislation for this memorial has been considered by the House this Congress. We voted on the House companion from Mr. Moore of Utah back in January 2025. It was one of the first Natural Resources Committee bills to pass this Chamber in the Congress. Unfortunately, instead of passing the House bill that we already sent over, the Senate is forcing us into a do-over. This is becoming an unsightly trend this Congress. The House Natural Resources Committee alone has sent 88 bipartisan bills over to the Senate that are still waiting for a vote. No wonder this has been such an unproductive Congress and one of the least productive on record. Mr. Speaker, I encourage Republican leadership in both Houses of Congress to start working together and talking to each other to better coordinate so that we are not forced to vote on all of these noncontroversial bills over and over. There is simply not time left on the calendar to continue this. Moving back to the bill that we are considering, I encourage my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation again. This is an excellent example of the amazing work that we can do when we reach across the aisle and work in a bipartisan way. But it is worth noting that this bill is also an example of how monuments in Washington, D.C., should happen and how they can be lawfully established through a transparent and explicit act of Congress. The Commemorative Works Act is the law, and it is very clear. Monuments and memorials in the area of Washington, D.C., may be built ``only as specifically authorized by law.'' If that weren't enough, Congress enacted a similar law prohibiting any building or structure being built on Federal public grounds in D.C. without express authority of Congress. It is an insult to the American people that this administration is ignoring the law, that they are barreling ahead with an enormous arc de Trump in flagrant violation of these laws, an arch that would tower over the Lincoln Memorial and the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery where we honor the very heroes that we have just been talking about here today. Our constituents can't afford groceries right now due to Trump's trade wars. They can't afford gas due to his war of choice in Iran or electricity bills due to his war on clean energy. The last thing we need is another golden monument commemorating President Trump in the Capital, let alone one that circumvents Congress and flouts the law. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues should stand up to this administration's lawlessness. In the meantime, this is a good bill. This is how you are supposed to do monuments in compliance with the law. You bring it to Congress. You pass it through the process. Soon this bill will become law, and this monument will happen. That is the way it should work. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Bruce Westerman

Republican 4:50 p.m.

“I want the Senate to pass the bills we sent them. We did a lot of work on those bills. The Senate should do their job and pass them.”

Blake D. Moore

Republican 4:50 p.m.

“I want to honor people who received the Medal of Honor. I like the committee's work on this bill. I want the Senate to pass more House bills. I worked on this bill for a long time. We should recognize these brave people. I worked with my friend on this bill.”

Official Congressional Record

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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Bruce Westerman

Republican 4:50 p.m.

“I want to honor Woody Williams. I want to honor people who received the Medal of Honor. This bill honors their memory. This bill honors their legacy. This bill shows commitment to their principles. I thank my friend for their work on this bill. I want the Senate to pass this bill. I want the President to sign this bill.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill that honors Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, our Nation's heroic Medal of Honor recipients, and all those who have served. It honors their memory. It honors their legacy, and it reaffirms our unwavering commitment to upholding the principles for which they fought so valiantly. Once again, I thank Representative Moore of Utah and Senator Justice of West Virginia for their leadership in this effort. I thank the Senate for actually passing a bill even if they needlessly changed it. Now we can hopefully get something to the President's desk. I urge passage of this bill and look forward to seeing President Trump sign it into law. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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