119-HR-186 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary — 119-HR-186

Headline Summary: The bill clears the way to place a National Medal of Honor monument on the central stretch of the National Mall, an area where new memorials are normally prohibited. [1]Congress.gov — Text — H.R.186 (119th): Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal…[2]Legal Information Institute (Cornell) — 40 U.S.C. § 8908 — Areas I and II (Rese…

What It Does: In plain terms, it tells the Park Service to locate the already-authorized Medal of Honor commemorative work within the Mall’s “Reserve” (the cross‑axis from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and from the White House to the Jefferson Memorial). It makes an explicit exception to the Commemorative Works Act’s ban on new memorials in the Reserve; all other memorial siting and design rules still apply. The 2021 law allowed the monument somewhere in D.C.; this bill specifies it must be in the Reserve. [1]Congress.gov — Text — H.R.186 (119th): Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal…[4]Legal Information Institute (Cornell) — 40 U.S.C. § 8902 — Definitions (includi…[2]Legal Information Institute (Cornell) — 40 U.S.C. § 8908 — Areas I and II (Rese…[5]Congress.gov — Text — Public Law 117‑80 (H.R. 1664, 117th Congress): Original a…

Who’s For It:

• Broad bipartisan support in the House: it passed 414–0 on January 21, 2025. [3]Congress.gov — All Info — H.R.186 (119th): Status, actions, vote, and committee…
• Sponsor Rep. Blake Moore (R‑UT) and backers say the monument should stand on the Mall to honor valor and inspire visitors. [6]House of Representatives (Rep. Blake Moore) — Press release: House passes Rep.…
• The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation supports placing the monument on the Mall and committing private funds to build it. [7]City of Arlington, TX — National Medal of Honor Museum applauds location act (q…

Who’s Against It:

• The Department of the Interior/National Park Service supports a Medal of Honor monument but opposes putting new memorials inside the Reserve, citing the 2003 policy to protect open space and existing memorials. [8]U.S. Department of the Interior — DOI/NPS testimony (May 15, 2024): Opposes sit…
• Planning authorities emphasize that no new memorials are permitted in the Reserve under federal law—part of a long‑standing effort to preserve the Mall’s core. [2]Legal Information Institute (Cornell) — 40 U.S.C. § 8908 — Areas I and II (Rese…[9]National Capital Planning Commission — Memorials & Museums Master Plan: Reserve…

What’s Next: As of December 10, 2025, the bill has passed the House and is in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; the Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on December 9, 2025. A similar Senate bill (S.858) is also pending. Next steps would be committee markup and a Senate floor vote; if it passes, the measure would go to the President. [3]Congress.gov — All Info — H.R.186 (119th): Status, actions, vote, and committee…[10]Congress.gov — S.858 (119th): Senate companion bill and status