Senate Passes Medal of Honor Monument Bill

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. 858, the Hershel "Woody" Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, on March 25, 2026, with an amendment by unanimous consent.[5][6] Sponsored by Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV), the bill authorizes the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to build a permanent monument honoring recipients within the Reserve on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., near the Lincoln Memorial.[2][6] No federal funds will be used, with the foundation raising all costs.[3][7]

The legislation builds on strong bipartisan momentum. The House passed companion bill H.R. 186 unanimously earlier this year, following a similar vote in the prior Congress.[3][7] It pays tribute to the roughly 4,000 Medal of Honor recipients out of 40 million U.S. service members, including World War II hero Hershel "Woody" Williams, the last surviving recipient from that war.[3][4] Congress first authorized the monument in 2021 as an extension of Abraham Lincoln's legacy, who established the Medal.[3]

For Milwaukee residents, this matters as a salute to local heroes like Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy and Army Sgt. First Class Alwyn C. Cashe, both Medal of Honor recipients from Wisconsin ties.[3] Wisconsin's 12 honorees embody the courage and sacrifice of families here who have served in every conflict.

The bill now heads to President Trump for signature, potentially clearing the way for construction soon.[3][7]