A bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced by U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) passed out of a conference committee last week as part of a larger defense policy bill.
The World War I Valor Medals Review Act, H.R. 2249/S. 1218 was included in the Dec. 11 House and Senate-negotiated conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, S. 1790.
Rep. Hill in April sponsored H.R. 2249 with bill cosponsor U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) to require review of the service records of certain decorated World War I veterans to determine whether they should be awarded the Medal of Honor for valor during that war, according to the congressional record summary. Sen. Blunt the same month cosponsored S. 1218 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
Language from the bill encourages the U.S. Department of Defense to conduct the review in consultation with the Valor Medals Review Task Force, a joint project of the congressionally established World War I Centennial Commission and Park University’s George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War, according to a statement released by Rep. Hill’s office.
“This bill ensures that minorities who served in World War I are honored with the recognition they deserve on behalf of a grateful nation,” Rep. Hill said.
The congressman explained that in October 2018, his office presented the family of Sergeant Leroy Johnston with medals he earned but did not receive for his service in World War I.
“Like many soldiers of that era, Sergeant Johnston was a victim of discrimination,” said Rep. Hill. “The World War I Valor Medals Review Act provides an opportunity to correct this injustice for countless American heroes and their families.”
Sen. Blunt said that minority WWI veterans who demonstrated the highest acts of bravery deserve to be recognized with the Medal of Honor.
“While we can’t undo the discrimination these heroes faced in their lifetimes, we can do the right thing now by making sure they receive the honor they’re due,” said Sen. Blunt, noting that these military service members “will finally be acknowledged for their heroic actions.”