AR66MISSISSIPPI ASSEMBLYLEGISLATURE RESOLUTIONREGULAR No.SESSION 2026 By:

66Representatives STATEHall, OFBarton, NEWBoyd JERSEYTo: 222nd LEGISLATURE   PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION     Sponsored by:

AssemblymanRules SEAN(19th), T.Byrd, Carpenter, Eubanks, Hulum, Morgan, Newman, Pigott, Tullos HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.

KEAN56 DistrictA 30CONCURRENT (MonmouthRESOLUTION andMEMORIALIZING Ocean)THE  UNITED Co-SponsoredSTATES by:CONGRESS TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE ISSUANCE OF THE ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL TO VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO SERVED IN HONDURAS FROM 1981 THROUGH 1992.

AssemblywomanWHEREAS, Fantasiabetween  1981  and  1992,  members SYNOPSISof     the UrgesUnited CongressStates to issue Armed Forces Expeditionarywere Medal,deployed orto similarHonduras recognition,in tosupport of United States troopsmilitary whooperations servedand inregional Hondurassecurity fromobjectives 1981during toa 1992.period of significant geopolitical instability in Central America;

 and CURRENTWHEREAS, VERSIONthese OFoperations TEXTwere     conducted Introducedin Pendingfurtherance Technicalof ReviewUnited byStates Legislativenational Counsel.security interests, including efforts to deter the expansion of communist influence throughout the region and to stabilize democratic governments in Central America;

  and AnWHEREAS, Assemblyservice Resolutionmembers urgingstationed Congress to issue an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, or similar recognition, to United States troops who served in Honduras fromduring 1981this toperiod 1992. operated  under Whereas,hazardous Newand Jerseyaustere believesconditions, thatoften allin servicesupport membersof shouldjoint be respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and becombined recognizedoperations, fortraining theexercises, sacrifices they and theircontingency lovedmissions onesassociated havewith maderegional onconflict; behalf of this great country;

and Whereas,WHEREAS, Thebetween United1981 States military maintained a presence in Honduras throughout the 1980s and early1992, 1990s,47 offeringPurple training,Hearts providingwere combatawarded support,to andservice conductingmembers militaryfor exerciseswounds withsustained theduring hostoperations nation;H.

andC. Whereas, The presence of the United States troops served as a deterrent to aggression in the region and as a means of support for democratic values through civil action in Honduran communities;

andR. Whereas, United States troops experienced hostile fire and imminent danger, and at least one service member received a purple heart because of terrorist activity;

andNo. Whereas, United States service members lost their lives while in Honduras due to terrorist activity and hazardous circumstances;

and56 Whereas,*HR26/R2650* This~ HouseOFFICIAL believes~ allN1/2 service26/HR26/R2650 membersPAGE who1 serve(DJ\KW) orconnected haveto servedthis inmission, hostiletwo environmentsPrisoner shouldof beWar appropriatelyMedals recognizedwere byissued, theand issuancefour ofAir anMedals Armedwere Forcesawarded, Expeditionaryreflecting Medalthe ordangerous similarnature recognition;of the service performed;

and Whereas,WHEREAS, Thisthe Houseawarding believesof itthese fittingdecorations andevidences appropriatethe forpresence Congressof tohostile recognizeor allimminent-danger Unitedconditions Statesconsistent troopswith whothe servedcriteria intraditionally Hondurasassociated fromwith 1981expeditionary tomilitary 1992;operations;

now,and therefore,WHEREAS,  in     1996, Bethe ItUnited ResolvedStates byCongress theauthorized Generaland Assemblythe President of the StateUnited States approved the issuance of Newthe Jersey:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) to veterans who served in El Salvador between 1981 and 1992, yet veterans who served in Honduras during the same period were not included in that authorization;

 and     WHEREAS, 1.   many ThisUnited HouseStates urgesmilitary Congresspersonnel tosupporting issueoperations anin ArmedEl ForcesSalvador Expeditionarywere Medal,stationed or similar recognition of having served in anor areaoperated offrom hostility,Honduras, tocreating alla Uniteddisparity States troops who served in Hondurasrecognition fromamong 1981similarly tosituated 1992.service members;

 and     WHEREAS, 2.   national Copiesveterans ofservice thisorganizations, resolution,including as filed with the SecretaryVeterans of State,Foreign shallWars, be transmitted by the ClerkAmerican ofLegion, theand General Assembly to the MajorityDisabled andAmerican MinorityVeterans, Leadershave ofadopted theformal Unitedresolutions Statessupporting Senate, the Speakerissuance and Minority Leader of the UnitedArmed StatesForces HouseExpeditionary ofMedal Representatives,to andveterans eachwho memberserved ofin CongressHonduras electedduring fromthe thisspecified State.period;

STATEMENTand  WHEREAS,     multiple Thisstates Assemblyhave resolutionadopted urges Congress to issue an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, or similarare recognitionactively ofconsidering havingconcurrent servedresolutions inmemorializing anCongress area of hostility, to alltake Unitedcorrective Statesaction, troopsincluding whoNorth servedDakota, inNew HondurasJersey, fromMissouri, 1981H. to 1992.

 C.      New Jersey believes that all service members should be respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and be recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.

    R. The United States military maintained a presence in Honduras throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, offering training, providing combat support, and conducting military exercises with the host nation.  The presence of the United States troops served as a deterrent to aggression in the region and as a means of support for democratic values through civil action in Honduran communities.  United States troops experienced hostile fire and imminent danger, and at least one service member received a purple heart because of terrorist activity.       United States service members lost their lives while in Honduras due to terrorist activity and hazardous circumstances.  This House believes all service members who serve or have served in hostile environments should be appropriately recognized.  This House believes it fitting and appropriate for Congress to recognize all United States troops who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992 by the issuance of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, or similar recognition.

No.

56 *HR26/R2650* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 26/HR26/R2650 PAGE 2(DJ\KW) Ohio, and Iowa, with additional states engaged in review or drafting processes;

and WHEREAS, equitable recognition of military service strengthens morale among veterans, honors sacrifice, and preserves the integrity of the nation's system of military awards and decorations;

and WHEREAS, the omission of Honduras service from prior authorization has created a longstanding inequity for veterans who served honorably and under hazardous conditions in defense of the interests of the United States;

and WHEREAS, it is imperative that action is taken on a national level, in order to ensure that the brave service members of our country's armed forces are given the just recognition they are deserving of the selfless display of heroism and patriotism in the face of adversity in furtherance of protecting the principles of freedom and democracy:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby respectfully memorialize the United States Congress to enact legislation authorizing and directing the Secretary of Defense to designate service in Honduras between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 1992, as qualifying service for the award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Congress is urged to provide for equitable and retroactive issuance of the Armed Forces H.

C.

R.

No.

56 *HR26/R2650* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 26/HR26/R2650 PAGE 3(DJ\KW) Expeditionary Medal to all eligible veterans who served in Honduras during the specified period.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, to each member of the State of Mississippi's Congressional delegation, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.

H.

C.

R.

No.

56 *HR26/R2650* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 26/HR26/R2650 ST:

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal;

urge PAGE 4(DJ\KW) Congress to issue to veterans who served in Honduras from 1981-1992.