I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2249 
To require the review of the service of certain members of the Armed Forces 
during World War I to determine if such members should be awarded 
the Medal of Honor, to authorize the award of the Medal of Honor 
based on the results of the review, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 10, 2019 
Mr. HILL of Arkansas (for himself, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. GRAVES of Missouri, 
and Ms. HOULAHAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To require the review of the service of certain members 
of the Armed Forces during World War I to determine 
if such members should be awarded the Medal of Honor, 
to authorize the award of the Medal of Honor based 
on the results of the review, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘World War I Valor 
Medals Review Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. REVIEW ON AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO 
CERTAIN WORLD WAR I VETERANS. 
(a) REVIEW REQUIRED.—Each Secretary concerned 
shall review the service records of each World War I vet-
eran described in subsection (b) under the jurisdiction of 
such Secretary who is recommended for such review by 
the Valor Medals Review Task Force referred to in sub-
section (c), or another veterans service organization, in 
order to determine whether such veteran should be award-
ed the Medal of Honor for valor during World War I. 
(b) COVERED
WORLD
WAR
I VETERANS.—The 
World War I veterans whose service records are to be re-
viewed under subsection (a) are the following: 
(1) Any African American war veteran, Asian 
American war veteran, Hispanic American war vet-
eran, Jewish American war veteran, or Native Amer-
ican war veteran who was awarded the Distinguished 
Service Cross or the Navy Cross for an action that 
occurred between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 
1918. 
(2) Any African American war veteran, Asian 
American war veteran, Hispanic American war vet-
eran, Jewish American war veteran, or Native Amer-
ican war veteran who was awarded the Croix de 
Guerre with Palm (that is, awarded at the Army 
level or above) by the Government of France for an 
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action that occurred between April 6, 1917, and No-
vember 11, 1918. 
(3) Any African American war veteran, Asian 
American war veteran, Hispanic American war vet-
eran, Jewish American war veteran, or Native Amer-
ican war veteran who was recommended for a Medal 
of Honor for an action that occurred from April 6, 
1917, to November 11, 1918. 
(c) CONSULTATIONS.—In carrying out the review 
under subsection (a), each Secretary concerned shall con-
sult at least once each fiscal year quarter with the Valor 
Medals Review Task Force, jointly established by the 
United States Foundation for the Commemoration of the 
World Wars (in consultation with the United States World 
War One Centennial Commission) and the George S. Robb 
Centre for the Study of the Great War, and with such 
other veterans service organizations as such Secretary 
considers appropriate, until the conclusion of the review. 
(d) RECOMMENDATION BASED ON REVIEW.—If a 
Secretary concerned determines, based upon the review 
under subsection (a), that the award of the Medal of 
Honor to a covered World War I veteran is warranted, 
such Secretary shall submit to the President a rec-
ommendation that the President award the Medal of 
Honor to that veteran. 
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(ii) the Secretary of the Navy, in the 
case of members of the Armed Forces who 
served in the Navy or the Marine Corps 
between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 
1918. 
(B) The term ‘‘African American war vet-
eran’’ means any person who served in the 
United States Armed Forces between April 6, 
1917, and November 11, 1918, and who identi-
fied himself as of African descent on his mili-
tary personnel records. 
(C) The term ‘‘Asian American war vet-
eran’’ means any person who served in the 
United States Armed Forces between April 6, 
1917, and November 11, 1918, and who identi-
fied himself racially, nationally, or ethnically as 
originating from a country in Asia on his mili-
tary personnel records. 
(D) The term ‘‘Hispanic American war 
veteran’’ means any person who served in the 
United States Armed Forces between April 6, 
1917, and November 11, 1918, and who identi-
fied himself racially, nationally, or ethnically as 
originating from a country where Spanish is an 
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