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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6406 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6406

     To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Last 
                     Servicemember Standing Medal.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 14, 2023

    Ms. Kaptur (for herself and Mr. Carter of Texas) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
     To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Last 
                     Servicemember Standing Medal.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Last Servicemember Standing Medal 
Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR LAST SERVICEMEMBER STANDING MEDAL.

    (a) Authorization.--Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 1135 and 1136 as sections 
        1136 and section 1137, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after section 1134 the following new 
        section:
``Sec. 1135. Last Servicemember Standing medal
    ``(a) Medal Authorized.--The Secretary concerned may issue a 
service medal, to be known as the `Last Servicemember Standing medal', 
to persons eligible under subsection (c).
    ``(b) Design.--The Last Servicemember Standing medal shall be of an 
appropriate design approved by the Secretary of Defense, with ribbons, 
lapel pins, and other appurtenances.
    ``(c) Eligible Persons.--Subject to subsection (d), a person 
eligible to be issued the Last Servicemember Standing medal is any 
member who--
            ``(1) served on active duty;
            ``(2) was deployed during war or overseas contingency 
        operation;
            ``(3) as a result of a combat instance during such war or 
        overseas contingency, was the last surviving member of a unit;
            ``(4) demonstrated extraordinary heroism in defense of the 
        United States during such combat instance; and
            ``(5) whose character is recommended for recognition by 
        their commanding officer and at least two peers.
    ``(d) One Medal Authorized.--Not more than one Last Servicemember 
Standing medal may be issued to any person.
    ``(e) Issuance to Next-of-Kin.--If a person described in subsection 
(c) is deceased, the Secretary concerned may provide for issuance of 
the Last Servicemember Standing medal to the next-of-kin of the person.
    ``(f) Regulations.--The issuance of a Last Servicemember Standing 
medal shall be subject to such regulations as the Secretaries concerned 
shall prescribe for purposes of this section. The Secretary of Defense 
shall ensure that any regulations prescribed under this subsection are 
uniform to the extent practicable.''.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Secretary of Defense should take appropriate actions to expedite--
            (1) the design of the Last Servicemember Standing medal 
        provided for by section 1136 of title 10, United States Code, 
        as added by subsection (a); and
            (2) the establishment and implementation of mechanisms to 
        facilitate the issuance of the Last Servicemember Standing 
        Medal to persons eligible for the issuance of the medal under 
        such section.
                                 <all>
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