Veterans (Memorials & Recognition)

passed · United States · House Jul 16, 2026

HR 4647: Captain Paul W. Bud Bucha VA Medical Center Act of 2025

This bill would rename the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Haven, Connecticut, to the "Captain Paul W. Bud Bucha VA Medical Center" upon enactment. It directly affects the facility's official designation and all related federal references. The legislation honors Medal of Honor recipient Paul W. Bud Bucha, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and lifelong advocate for veterans' mental health. The change is purely procedural, updating the facility's name in all official documents without altering services or policies.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRenames VA facility to honor Medal of Honor veteran and advocate, directly recognizing veteran service per classification criteria.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 14, 2026

S 3373: A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14855 South Van Dyke Road in Plainfield, Illinois, as the "Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez Jr. Post Office Building".

This bill designates the United States Postal Service facility at 14855 South Van Dyke Road in Plainfield, Illinois, as the "Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez Jr. Post Office Building." It changes all official references to this specific postal facility to reflect the new name. The bill does not alter any postal services, funding, or operations - only the facility's official designation. This is a ceremonial naming action honoring Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez Jr.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransHonors veteran service via facility naming, aligning with recognition under topic description90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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in committee · United States · House Aug 19, 2025

HR 5012: To authorize the President to award the Purple Heart to Louis Boria, Jr., for injuries incurred during World War II and the Korean War while a member of the Marine Corps.

HR 5012 authorizes the President to award the Purple Heart military decoration to Louis Boria, Jr., for combat injuries he sustained during World War II and the Korean War while serving in the Marine Corps. It specifically waives the standard eligibility criteria outlined in Executive Order 11016 for this single case. The bill directly affects Louis Boria, Jr., by enabling him to receive this honor for his wartime service, with no broader policy changes or additional beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill directly authorizes Purple Heart recognition for veteran's combat injuries, aligning with 'recognizes veteran service' support indicator for a single case.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 4, 2026

S 3781: A bill to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Capers, Jr., for acts of valor as a member of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Capers, Jr., for his acts of valor during the Vietnam War. It directly affects Capers, who previously received a Silver Star for these actions but was not awarded the Medal of Honor due to time limits. The key provision bypasses standard time restrictions in military award laws (10 U.S.C. §§ 8298(a), 8300) to allow the Medal of Honor award. The bill does not change existing policy but specifically enables this retroactive recognition for Capers' service.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill authorizes retroactive Medal of Honor award for veteran's valor, directly recognizing military service and honoring sacrifice per legislative intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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in committee · United States · House May 29, 2025

HR 3642: Final Honors Act of 2025

HR 3642, the Final Honors Act of 2025, allows the remains of service members who died from injuries incurred while on duty to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol rotunda. It directly affects the primary surviving next of kin of these fallen service members, requiring their request for the honor. The bill mandates the Secretary concerned to notify next of kin per existing law and directs the Architect of the Capitol (under congressional leadership) to schedule the ceremony and determine eligibility. This applies to service members who die on or after the bill's enactment date.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides ceremonial recognition for fallen service members' remains in Capitol rotunda, directly aligning with veteran recognition policy indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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in committee · United States · House Nov 17, 2025

HR 6032: Headstones for Honor Act

HR 6032, the Headstones for Honor Act, expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) headstones, markers, or medallions to two specific groups: enslaved individuals who accompanied military personnel during service, and people who performed military functions despite legal bans based on race, gender, or ethnicity. The bill requires VA regulations to define "military function" and accept evidence like pay records, diaries, or family bibles to verify eligibility. For those who served with the Confederate States, headstones must include language noting they were "forced to support their own enslavement." Requests for headstones must be made by direct descendants or authorized representatives, with VA regulations due within one year of enactment.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands VA headstone eligibility to historically excluded veterans, recognizing service and extending benefits through formal recognition programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits

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in committee · United States · House Nov 7, 2025

HR 5945: USS Frank E. Evans Act

This bill requires adding the names of 74 crew members of the USS Frank E. Evans (killed in a 1969 incident) to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall within one year of enactment. It directly affects the memorial's inscription and honors the families of those lost. The Secretary of Defense must consult on placement due to space limits and is exempt from standard memorial rules under the Commemorative Works Act.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds names of 74 fallen crew to Vietnam Veterans Memorial, recognizing their service per topic description of veteran recognition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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signed · United States · House Mar 26, 2026

HR 3377: To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Capers, Jr., for acts of valor as a member of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Marine James Capers, Jr., for his acts of valor during the Vietnam War on March 31-April 3, 1967. It directly affects Capers, who previously received the Silver Star for these actions but had not been awarded the Medal of Honor due to time limitations. The bill bypasses standard time restrictions under U.S. Code that typically prevent retroactive Medal of Honor awards. This is a non-procedural policy change that formally enables the award to be granted for specific historical military service.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill authorizes Medal of Honor award for veteran's valor, directly recognizing service and correcting prior oversight per support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2025

HR 1819: To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor during the Korean War.

HR 1819 authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to retired Navy Lieutenant E. Royce Williams for his extraordinary aerial combat during the Korean War on November 18, 1952. The bill waives standard time limits under U.S. Code (10 U.S.C. §8298) to correct his historical recognition, as Williams was initially only credited with one enemy aircraft kill despite reportedly shooting down four or five MiG-15s in a single engagement. His actions - flying an F9F-5 Panther against seven Soviet jets in blizzard conditions, sustaining 263 holes in his aircraft, and landing safely at 170 knots - were previously overlooked due to classified intelligence. The bill formally acknowledges his valor, building on his 2023 upgrade from a Silver Star to the Navy Cross.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill authorizes Medal of Honor for veteran's Korean War valor, correcting historical recognition of combat actions, directly supporting veteran recognition.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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passed · United States · Senate Dec 11, 2025

SRES 544: A resolution designating December 13, 2025, as "National Wreaths Across America Day".

This resolution designates December 13, 2025, as "National Wreaths Across America Day" to honor the Wreaths Across America project. It recognizes the annual tradition of placing veterans' remembrance wreaths on graves at national cemeteries and memorials across all 50 states and overseas locations, involving volunteers, the trucking industry, and patriotic escort groups like the Patriot Guard Riders. The resolution does not create new policy or affect specific groups through legislative action - it is a symbolic gesture celebrating the project’s mission to "Remember, Honor, and Teach" about veterans' sacrifices. The designation follows the project’s history of delivering over 23 million wreaths since 1992.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransDesignates day to honor veterans' remembrance through wreath-laying tradition, aligning with recognition policy per topic description.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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