Representative Marc Veasey's National Medal of Honor Monument Act Headed to President Biden’s Desk

WASHINGTON – This weekend, after unanimously passing the House in July, Representative Marc Veasey's National Medal of Honor Monument Act unanimously passed the Senate. The legislation will now head to the White House to be signed into law by President Biden.

Introduced by Representatives Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Blake Moore (R-UT) and Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), the National Medal of Honor Monument Act is bipartisan legislation that authorizes the creation of a monument that will pay homage to the values the Medal of Honor represents—courage, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, commitment, and sacrifice—and the less than 4,000 brave individuals who earned it in service to their country. Of the roughly 9,500 bills introduced in both chambers during the first session of the 117th Congress, only 95 have passed both the House and the Senate.

"I am so proud that my bipartisan Medal of Honor legislation will be signed into law by President Biden," said Representative Marc Veasey. "This legislation honors the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women who risked their lives to protect our country."

"I am grateful to have been part of this historic effort to commemorate our Medal of Honor recipients with a monument in Washington, D.C.," said Representative Blake Moore. "This bipartisan legislation is off to the president's desk, and we are one step closer to immortalizing the sacrifices of our nation's greatest heroes."

"An homage to America's Medal of Honor recipients in our nation's capital will remind visitors and residents alike of what it means to put your country first," said Senator John Cornyn. "The selfless servicemembers who have earned the Medal of Honor – like the fabled Patrick Brady and Audie Murphy, to name a few – deserve our utmost respect and recognition, and I applaud the Foundation, which calls Arlington, Texas home, for their hard work and advocacy."

"I am proud our bill to establish a National Medal of Honor Monument has reached this pivotal point, passing the Senate and getting one step closer to becoming law," said Senator Tim Kaine. "This museum will honor the tremendous sacrifices our servicemembers have made in service to our nation."

"With only 67 Medal of Honor recipients alive today, time is of the essence to recognize our nation's bravest heroes. By passing the National Medal of Honor Monument Act, we are one step closer to doing just that," said Chris Cassidy, National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation president and CEO. "I want to thank Sens. Cornyn and Kaine and Reps. Veasey and Moore for their tremendous leadership. Together, we will pay tribute to the fewer than 4,000 brave Americans who have received the Medal."

The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest military decoration and is awarded to U.S. service members who have distinguished themselves with extraordinary acts of valor. It is awarded very rarely and only to those whose service and sacrifice far exceed the call of duty. The mission of the National Medal of Honor Museum, which is currently being built in Arlington in Texas's 33rd Congressional district, is to commemorate the stories of our Medal of Honor recipients, unite Americans around the common ideals embodied by the medal, and inspire every citizen to look for ways to serve and create a lasting impact in their own communities.