119-S-858 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary — S. 858: Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act

Headline Summary: The bill would require the planned Medal of Honor monument to be built inside the National Mall’s protected “Reserve,” with the sponsors pointing to proximity to the Lincoln Memorial as fitting symbolism. [1]Congress.gov — Text — S.858 (119th): Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams National Medal of…

What It Does: In 2021, Congress authorized a privately funded Medal of Honor monument somewhere on federal land in D.C., subject to the Commemorative Works Act (CWA). This new bill narrows that by directing the monument to be sited within the Mall’s “Reserve” area—space the CWA generally closes to new memorials—effectively carving a one‑off exception. The findings point to a location near the Lincoln Memorial, but the binding language requires placement within the Reserve. [4]Congress.gov — H.R. 1664 (117th) — Became Public Law 117‑80 (authorizing the Me…[1]Congress.gov — Text — S.858 (119th): Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams National Medal of…[2]U.S. Government Publishing Office — 40 U.S.C. Chapter 89 (Commemorative Works A…

• Sen. Jim Justice (R‑WV) and several Republican co‑sponsors back the bill, arguing the Medal of Honor merits a central, symbolic site on the Mall. [5]Congress.gov — S.858 (119th) — Bill overview, sponsor, cosponsors, status[6]Office of Sen. Jim Justice — Press release: Sen. Jim Justice introduces the Her…
• National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation supports locating the monument on the Mall and says it will be funded privately (no federal construction funds), consistent with the 2021 law. [7]City of Arlington, Texas — National Medal of Honor Museum applauds Monument Loc…[4]Congress.gov — H.R. 1664 (117th) — Became Public Law 117‑80 (authorizing the Me…
• The House passed a companion measure (H.R. 186) on January 21, 2025, by 414–0, signaling broad bipartisan interest in establishing the location. [8]Congress.gov — H.R. 186 (119th) — House passed 414–0 on Jan. 21, 2025; current…

• The U.S. Department of the Interior opposes placing new memorials in the Reserve and has urged finding a site outside it, citing the CWA’s purpose to protect the Mall’s limited open space and to avoid encroachment on existing memorials. [9]U.S. Department of the Interior — Interior statement on H.R. 2717 — opposes Res…[10]U.S. Department of the Interior — Interior testimony before Senate National Par…
• Policy analysts note that the Reserve was designated in 2003 as a “substantially completed work of civic art” where new commemorative works are generally prohibited; exemptions are rare and raise precedent concerns. [3]Congressional Research Service / Congress.gov — CRS In Focus: Commemorative Wor…
• Supporters often point to past, narrowly tailored exceptions (for example, Congress’s authorization related to the Global War on Terrorism Memorial) to argue this honor also merits a central site. [11]House Natural Resources Committee / Congress.gov — House Report 118‑267 — Medal…

What’s Next: The Senate version (S. 858) was referred to the Energy & Natural Resources Committee and received a Subcommittee on National Parks hearing on December 9, 2025. If the committee advances it, the bill could go to the full Senate; any differences with the House‑passed version would need to be resolved before it can be sent to the President. [5]Congress.gov — S.858 (119th) — Bill overview, sponsor, cosponsors, status[12]Congress.gov — Senate Energy & Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks…