Floor SpeechBipartisan2024-12-09

NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HIGHWAY

EnvironmentForeign PolicyDefenseVeteransInfrastructure

Context

On 2024-12-09, Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA-2) delivered a floor speech titled "NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HIGHWAY" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered foreign policy, defense. It referenced legislation including HR3149, S1478, S20.

Full Text

NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HIGHWAY

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6451-H6452] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HIGHWAY Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1478) to designate United States Route 20 in the States of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'', and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 1478 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HIGHWAY. (a) Purpose.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to honor all current and future Medal of Honor recipients; and (2) to recognize the valor and service of those Medal of Honor recipients. (b) Designation.--United States Route 20 in each of the States of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts shall be known and designated as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway''. (c) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the highway referred to in subsection (b) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``National Medal of Honor Highway''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri. General Leave Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1478. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri? There was no objection. Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1478, a bill which designates U.S. Route 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway.'' I also thank my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) for sponsoring the House companion bill which is H.R. 3149. The Medal of Honor is an award presented to servicemembers who go above and beyond the call of duty and risk their own lives to protect the United States. Formally designating U.S. Route 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'' honors all 3,519 recipients of the Medal of Honor and all future recipients. U.S. Route 20 is the longest continuous highway in our Nation, spanning 3,365 miles across 12 States. As people travel along U.S. Route 20, through Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, they will be reminded of the recipients and their exemplary service to the United States. This bill is supported by The American Legion, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Legion of Valor, Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, Military Officers Association of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Vietnam Veterans of America. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1478, which would designate U.S. Highway 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway.'' U.S. 20 is the longest road in the United States, passing through 12 States between Oregon and Massachusetts. Currently, all 12 of these States have designations at the State level deeming U.S. Route 20 the Medal of Honor Highway. This bill would overlay a Federal designation. Servicemembers are awarded the Medal of Honor for embodying the highest levels of bravery and valor. We owe a great debt of gratitude to every recipient of this award. This bill is a way to honor all current and future recipients and help to ensure we remember their acts of heroism. This legislation's House companion bill was already reported favorably by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by unanimous consent. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), who sponsored the House companion bill. Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of my legislation that would designate U.S. Highway 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway.'' U.S. Route 20 is America's longest continuous highway, spanning more than 3,000 miles from coast to coast, from Massachusetts to Oregon and across our great country, including through my district in Erie County, Pennsylvania. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is critical as it would commemorate all 3,519 recipients of the Medal of Honor award both living and deceased. [[Page H6452]] The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest military award for valor. The Medal of Honor recognizes the extraordinary sacrifice, courage, and devotion exhibited by every single recipient of the award. We owe them a debt we can never repay. Redesignating U.S. Route 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'' would honor each State's current and future Medal of Honor recipients and recipients from any State who travel on the highway. Legislatures and Governors in all 12 States along U.S. Route 20 have designated their State ``Medal of Honor'' highways covering 100 percent of the 3,365 miles across America. The 12 States along U.S. Highway 20 account for about 62 percent of all Medal of Honor recipients since the Civil War. The legislation is supported by The American Legion, the Legion of Valor, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, and other organizations. It is my sincere hope that the millions of Americans who travel the highway each year from Bend, Oregon; to Chicago, Illinois; to Erie, Pennsylvania; and to Boston, Massachusetts, will take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary sacrifice, courage, and devotion exhibited by every single Medal of Honor recipient. Designating this highway is just one way we can cement their legacy in American history. I thank Senator Wyden for partnering and advocating for this bill in the Senate. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill in honoring all of our Nation's brave servicemembers who have received the Medal of Honor. Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I will note that recipients of the Medal of Honor have performed great acts of bravery in service to the United States. This bill is one way to honor the servicemembers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, this bill honors the brave men and women who go above and beyond to protect the United States. I commend Representative Mike Kelly for leading the House effort to honor our servicemembers. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee favorably reported the House companion legislation for this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill so we can send it to the President's desk and get it signed into law. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 1478. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S1478, S1478, HR3149

View original source →

NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HIGHWAY Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6451-H6452] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HIGHWAY Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1478) to designate United States Route 20 in the States of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'', and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 1478 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HIGHWAY. (a) Purpose.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to honor all current and future Medal of Honor recipients; and (2) to recognize the valor and service of those Medal of Honor recipients. (b) Designation.--United States Route 20 in each of the States of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts shall be known and designated as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway''. (c) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the highway referred to in subsection (b) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``National Medal of Honor Highway''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri. General Leave Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1478. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri? There was no objection. Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1478, a bill which designates U.S. Route 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway.'' I also thank my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) for sponsoring the House companion bill which is H.R. 3149. The Medal of Honor is an award presented to servicemembers who go above and beyond the call of duty and risk their own lives to protect the United States. Formally designating U.S. Route 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'' honors all 3,519 recipients of the Medal of Honor and all future recipients. U.S. Route 20 is the longest continuous highway in our Nation, spanning 3,365 miles across 12 States. As people travel along U.S. Route 20, through Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, they will be reminded of the recipients and their exemplary service to the United States. This bill is supported by The American Legion, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Legion of Valor, Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, Military Officers Association of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Vietnam Veterans of America. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1478, which would designate U.S. Highway 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway.'' U.S. 20 is the longest road in the United States, passing through 12 States between Oregon and Massachusetts. Currently, all 12 of these States have designations at the State level deeming U.S. Route 20 the Medal of Honor Highway. This bill would overlay a Federal designation. Servicemembers are awarded the Medal of Honor for embodying the highest levels of bravery and valor. We owe a great debt of gratitude to every recipient of this award. This bill is a way to honor all current and future recipients and help to ensure we remember their acts of heroism. This legislation's House companion bill was already reported favorably by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by unanimous consent. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), who sponsored the House companion bill. Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of my legislation that would designate U.S. Highway 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway.'' U.S. Route 20 is America's longest continuous highway, spanning more than 3,000 miles from coast to coast, from Massachusetts to Oregon and across our great country, including through my district in Erie County, Pennsylvania. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is critical as it would commemorate all 3,519 recipients of the Medal of Honor award both living and deceased. [[Page H6452]] The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest military award for valor. The Medal of Honor recognizes the extraordinary sacrifice, courage, and devotion exhibited by every single recipient of the award. We owe them a debt we can never repay. Redesignating U.S. Route 20 as the ``National Medal of Honor Highway'' would honor each State's current and future Medal of Honor recipients and recipients from any State who travel on the highway. Legislatures and Governors in all 12 States along U.S. Route 20 have designated their State ``Medal of Honor'' highways covering 100 percent of the 3,365 miles across America. The 12 States along U.S. Highway 20 account for about 62 percent of all Medal of Honor recipients since the Civil War. The legislation is supported by The American Legion, the Legion of Valor, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, and other organizations. It is my sincere hope that the millions of Americans who travel the highway each year from Bend, Oregon; to Chicago, Illinois; to Erie, Pennsylvania; and to Boston, Massachusetts, will take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary sacrifice, courage, and devotion exhibited by every single Medal of Honor recipient. Designating this highway is just one way we can cement their legacy in American history. I thank Senator Wyden for partnering and advocating for this bill in the Senate. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill in honoring all of our Nation's brave servicemembers who have received the Medal of Honor. Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I will note that recipients of the Medal of Honor have performed great acts of bravery in service to the United States. This bill is one way to honor the servicemembers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, this bill honors the brave men and women who go above and beyond to protect the United States. I commend Representative Mike Kelly for leading the House effort to honor our servicemembers. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee favorably reported the House companion legislation for this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill so we can send it to the President's desk and get it signed into law. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 1478. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________ Referenced legislation: S1478, S1478, HR3149