To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of a military service medal to each member of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes.

Summary: Cold War Victory Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned, upon application, to issue Cold War Victory service medals to military personnel who served honorably during the Cold War era (September 2, 1945, through December 26, 1991).

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cold War Victory Medal Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    (a) In General.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States Armed Forces engaged the forces of 
        international communism from September 2, 1945, the end of 
        World War II, through December 26, 1991, the date of the 
        disintegration of the former Soviet Union.
            (2) During that extended period, the United States relied 
        for the security of the Nation and its interests on the 
        performance by the Armed Forces of their obligation to serve 
        and defend the United States.
            (3) The defeat of the former Soviet Union and its Warsaw 
        Pact allies constituted the greatest success of the Armed 
        Forces since the end of World War II.
            (4) Many members of the Armed Forces who served the Nation 
        during the prolonged period of the Cold War have not received 
        the tangible recognition that they are due for that service.
    (b) Reaffirmation of Prior Findings.--Congress reaffirms the 
findings in section 1084 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 1121; 111 
Stat. 1919-1920), which commended members of the Armed Forces and 
Government civilian personnel who served during the Cold War, and notes 
that that section provided for the issuance of a certificate of 
recognition for those members and personnel.

SEC. 3. COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL.

    (a) Authority.--Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1134. Cold War Victory Medal
    ``(a) Medal Authorized.--The Secretary concerned shall issue a 
service medal, to be known as the `Cold War Victory Medal', to persons 
eligible to receive the medal under subsection (b). The Cold War 
Victory Medal shall be of an appropriate design approved by the 
Secretary of Defense, with ribbons, lapel pins, and other 
appurtenances.
    ``(b) Eligible Persons.--The following persons are eligible to 
receive a Cold War Victory Medal:
            ``(1) A person who--
                    ``(A) performed active duty or inactive duty 
                training as an enlisted member during the Cold War;
                    ``(B) completed the person's initial term of 
                enlistment or, if discharged before completion of such 
                initial term of enlistment, was honorably discharged 
                after completion of not less than 180 days of service 
                on active duty; and
                    ``(C) has not received a discharge less favorable 
                than an honorable discharge or a release from active 
                duty with a characterization of service less favorable 
                than honorable.
            ``(2) A person who--
                    ``(A) performed active duty or inactive duty 
                training as a commissioned officer or warrant officer 
                during the Cold War;
                    ``(B) completed the person's initial service 
                obligation as an officer or, if discharged or separated 
                before completion of such initial service obligation, 
                was honorably discharged after completion of not less 
                than 180 days of service on active duty; and
                    ``(C) has not been released from active duty with a 
                characterization of service less favorable than 
                honorable and has not received discharge or separation 
                less favorable than an honorable discharge.
    ``(c) One Medal Authorized.--Not more than one Cold War Victory 
Medal may be issued to or on behalf of any person described in 
subsection (b).
    ``(d) Issuance to Representative of Deceased.--If a person 
described in subsection (b) dies before being issued a Cold War Victory 
Medal, the medal shall be presented to the person's representative, as 
designated by the Secretary concerned.
    ``(e) Replacement.--Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
concerned, a Cold War Victory Medal that is lost, destroyed, or 
rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the 
person to whom it was issued may be replaced without charge.
    ``(f) Application for Medal.--The Secretary concerned shall issue a 
Cold War Victory Medal to or on behalf of a person described in 
subsection (b) upon receipt by the Secretary concerned of an 
application for such medal, submitted in accordance with such 
regulations as the Secretary prescribes.
    ``(g) Uniform Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure 
that regulations prescribed under this section by the Secretaries of 
the military departments are uniform so far as is practicable.
    ``(h) Definition.--In this section, the term `Cold War' means the 
period beginning on September 2, 1945, and ending on December 26, 
1991.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``1134. Cold War Victory Medal.''.