S858-119

What This Bill Does

Overrides the Commemorative Works Act location restriction that would otherwise bar the National Medal of Honor Monument from the Reserve, the highly protected core area of the National Mall. The underlying monument was authorized in 2021 to honor Medal of Honor recipients. This bill lets that commemorative work be located within the Reserve, while leaving the rest of chapter 89 of title 40 applicable.

Who Benefits and How

The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, Medal of Honor recipients, living recipients' families, veterans organizations, service members, National Mall visitors, and civic-education groups benefit from a more prominent location near the Lincoln Memorial and other nationally significant commemorative works. The location authority supports the bill's findings that the Medal of Honor has supreme national and historical importance.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The National Park Service, National Capital Planning Commission, Commission of Fine Arts, and other commemorative-work review bodies must evaluate the monument inside the Reserve under the remaining Commemorative Works Act process. Federal land managers and monument sponsors must handle design, siting, review, and stewardship in one of the Mall's most constrained areas.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the National Medal of Honor Monument to be located within the Reserve.
• Provides a narrow exemption from the Reserve-location bar in 40 U.S.C. 8908(c).
• Requires the monument to remain subject to the rest of the Commemorative Works Act.
• Establishes congressional findings on Medal of Honor history, Hershel Woody Williams, and proximity to the Lincoln Memorial.