[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3388 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3388
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of a
military service medal to each member of the Armed Forces who served
honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 29, 2003
Mr. Tancredo (for himself, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Moran of Virginia)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of a
military service medal to each member of the Armed Forces who served
honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cold War Victory Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
(a) In General.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States Armed Forces engaged the forces of
international communism from September 2, 1945, the end of
World War II, through December 26, 1991, the date of the
disintegration of the former Soviet Union.
(2) During that extended period, the United States relied
for the security of the Nation and its interests on the
performance by the Armed Forces of their obligation to serve
and defend the United States.
(3) The defeat of the former Soviet Union and its Warsaw
Pact allies constituted the greatest success of the Armed
Forces since the end of World War II.
(4) Many members of the Armed Forces who served the Nation
during the prolonged period of the Cold War have not received
the tangible recognition that they are due for that service.
(b) Reaffirmation of Prior Findings.--Congress reaffirms the
findings in section 1084 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 1121; 111
Stat. 1919-1920), which commended members of the Armed Forces and
Government civilian personnel who served during the Cold War, and notes
that that section provided for the issuance of a certificate of
recognition for those members and personnel.
SEC. 3. COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL.
(a) Authority.--Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1134. Cold War Victory Medal
``(a) Medal Authorized.--The Secretary concerned shall issue a
service medal, to be known as the `Cold War Victory Medal', to persons
eligible to receive the medal under subsection (b). The Cold War
Victory Medal shall be of an appropriate design approved by the
Secretary of Defense, with ribbons, lapel pins, and other
appurtenances.
``(b) Eligible Persons.--The following persons are eligible to
receive a Cold War Victory Medal:
``(1) A person who--
``(A) performed active duty or inactive duty
training as an enlisted member during the Cold War;
``(B) completed the person's initial term of
enlistment or, if discharged before completion of such
initial term of enlistment, was honorably discharged
after completion of not less than 180 days of service
on active duty; and
``(C) has not received a discharge less favorable
than an honorable discharge or a release from active
duty with a characterization of service less favorable
than honorable.
``(2) A person who--
``(A) performed active duty or inactive duty
training as a commissioned officer or warrant officer
during the Cold War;
``(B) completed the person's initial service
obligation as an officer or, if discharged or separated
before completion of such initial service obligation,
was honorably discharged after completion of not less
than 180 days of service on active duty; and
``(C) has not been released from active duty with a
characterization of service less favorable than
honorable and has not received discharge or separation
less favorable than an honorable discharge.
``(c) One Medal Authorized.--Not more than one Cold War Victory
Medal may be issued to or on behalf of any person described in
subsection (b).
``(d) Issuance to Representative of Deceased.--If a person
described in subsection (b) dies before being issued a Cold War Victory
Medal, the medal shall be presented to the person's representative, as
designated by the Secretary concerned.
``(e) Replacement.--Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary
concerned, a Cold War Victory Medal that is lost, destroyed, or
rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the
person to whom it was issued may be replaced without charge.
``(f) Application for Medal.--The Secretary concerned shall issue a
Cold War Victory Medal to or on behalf of a person described in
subsection (b) upon receipt by the Secretary concerned of an
application for such medal, submitted in accordance with such
regulations as the Secretary prescribes.
``(g) Uniform Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure
that regulations prescribed under this section by the Secretaries of
the military departments are uniform so far as is practicable.
``(h) Definition.--In this section, the term `Cold War' means the
period beginning on September 2, 1945, and ending on December 26,
1991.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``1134. Cold War Victory Medal.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Total Force.
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
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