Sponsors (3)
Last progress June 11, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 11, 2025 by Darrell Issa
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Allows the military services to review and award medals and other decorations even when normal recommendation time limits have passed because relevant records were classified, withheld, or redacted for national security. It requires service Secretaries to start and complete reviews on set timelines, file reports about each review, and clarifies that missing a review deadline does not block a Secretary or the President from awarding a decoration.
Allows a decoration (including any device in lieu of a decoration), authorized by law or under Department of Defense or military department regulations, to be awarded without regard to any legal or regulatory time limit for recommendation when conditions in this section are met.
The waiver of time limitations may apply only when the award is for service performed while on active duty in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.
The waiver of time limitations may apply only for service occurring on or after January 1, 1940.
The waiver of time limitations may apply only when the service records were classified, withheld from the public record due to sensitivity, or redacted for national security purposes.
Eligibility for consideration under this section must be based on a request for consideration of such award received by the Secretary of a military department.
Who is affected and how:
Service members and veterans: Active-duty personnel and veterans whose award recommendations were delayed or blocked because records were classified can now be re-reviewed and potentially receive medals or decorations despite normal time limits. That includes individuals who served as far back as 1940.
Military departments and Secretaries: The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force must conduct reviews on schedules and produce reports. This imposes administrative work (searching records, re-evaluating recommendations, preparing reports) and requires coordination with classified records custodians.
Families and survivors: Next of kin and families of eligible deceased or living service members may receive belated recognition, which can have symbolic and morale benefits.
Records custodians and security offices: Agencies managing classified materials will be involved to unredact, declassify, or provide necessary access for reviews, potentially triggering interagency coordination.
Budget and operations: The statute creates procedural and reporting requirements but does not explicitly provide new appropriations; impacts are primarily administrative and expected to be modest compared with broader defense spending.
Overall effect: the change closes a gap that left some eligible service members unable to receive decorations because national-security secrecy blocked timely action. It increases administrative workload for the services but offers a clear path to correct past omissions without changing substantive award criteria.