Sponsors (15)
The bill provides formal, standardized recognition to service members and families for service in the Iran–Israel War, at modest cost and with some risk of eligibility disputes over who qualifies.
Service members who served in qualifying operations during the Iran–Israel War—and their next of kin when a service member is deceased—receive formal, official recognition through a single campaign medal, giving veterans and families a tangible acknowledgment of service.
A uniform medal design and consistent issuance rules across military services standardize recognition and reduce administrative confusion in awarding the honor.
Broad or Secretary-prescribed eligibility criteria could produce disputes or perceptions of unfairness about who qualifies for the medal, potentially causing dissatisfaction among service members and veterans.
Establishing and administering a new medal imposes modest production and administrative costs borne by the Defense Department (and ultimately taxpayers).
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a new military service medal—the Iranian Campaign Medal—and authorizes the Secretaries of the military departments to award it to eligible service members who served on active duty in support of designated operations during the Iran–Israel War (including service in Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, 2025). The Secretary of Defense must approve the medal’s design and the Secretaries will issue uniform regulations for awarding the medal; only one medal may be awarded per person and next-of-kin may receive a medal for a deceased eligible person.
Introduced June 30, 2025 by Tony Gonzales · Last progress June 30, 2025