Hershel "Woody" Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act
This bill requires the authorized commemorative work honoring Medal of Honor recipients to be located within the Reserve (the great cross-axis of the National Mall, which generally extends from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and from the White House to the Jefferson Memorial).
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2717 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2717
To authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish
a commemorative work on the National Mall to honor the extraordinary
acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed by Medal of
Honor recipients.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 19, 2023
Mr. Moore of Utah (for himself, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Espaillat, Ms.
Brownley, Mr. Curtis, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. Hudson, Mr.
Pfluger, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Mrs. Bice, Mrs. Harshbarger, Mrs.
Luna, Mr. Ellzey, Mrs. Hinson, Mr. Williams of Texas, Mr. Carbajal, Mr.
Neguse, Mr. Hunt, and Mr. Allred) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish
a commemorative work on the National Mall to honor the extraordinary
acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed by Medal of
Honor recipients.
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 ``Hershel `Woody' Williams National
Medal of Honor Monument Location Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Congress in 2021 unanimously passed, and the President
signed, Public Law 117-80 (40 U.S.C. 8903 note), which
authorized the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to
establish on Federal land in the District of Columbia a
commemorative work to honor the acts of valor, selfless
service, and sacrifice displayed by Medal of Honor recipients.
(2) The Medal of Honor was established by President Abraham
Lincoln and first awarded 160 years ago on March 25, 1863, and
is part of Lincoln's lasting and living legacy.
(3) In 1991, during the administration of President George
H.W. Bush, this legacy was extended further when National Medal
of Honor Day was established as March 25th of each year.
(4) The Medal of Honor is awarded to all branches of the
United States Armed Forces as our nation's highest recognition
for valor in combat.
(5) The number of living Medal of Honor recipients has been
steadily declining, making it even more crucial to honor and
recognize their heroic sacrifices and inspire future
generations.
(6) Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, the last World War II Medal
of Honor recipient, passed away in 2022 and laid in honor at
the United States Capitol.
(7) The Medal of Honor represents the very best of our
Nation--ordinary citizens, who took extraordinary action above
and beyond the call of duty and became heroes of our Republic.
(8) These examples inspire all citizens and ignite within
us the very spirit of America.
(9) The Medal of Honor rises to the level of supreme
national and historical importance necessary to warrant
representation on the National Mall.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MONUMENT LOCATION.
Section 1 of Public Law 117-80 (40 U.S.C. 8903 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``The establishment''
and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (e), the
establishment''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Location.--Notwithstanding section 8908(c) of title 40,
United States Code, the commemorative work established under this
section shall be located--
``(1) within the Reserve (as defined in section 8902 of
title 40, United States Code); and
``(2) attached to, or not more than 1,000 feet from, the
Lincoln Memorial, as a respectful extension of his enduring
legacy and recognition of what ordinary people can accomplish
when working for the greater good.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 29 - 0.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-267.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-267.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 216.
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5416-5418)
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2717.
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Westerman objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5648)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: 11/6/2023 CR H5416)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: 11/6/2023 CR H5416)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.