MISSISSIPPIAR66 LEGISLATUREASSEMBLY REGULARRESOLUTION SESSIONNo. 2026 By:

Representatives66 Hall,STATE Barton,OF BoydNEW To:JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE   PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION     Sponsored by:

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

56KEAN ADistrict CONCURRENT30 RESOLUTION(Monmouth MEMORIALIZINGand THEOcean) UNITED  STATESCo-Sponsored CONGRESSby: 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.

WHEREAS,Assemblywoman betweenFantasia 1981  and  1992,  members  ofSYNOPSIS the     UnitedUrges StatesCongress to issue Armed Forces wereExpeditionary deployedMedal, toor Hondurassimilar inrecognition, supportto of United States militarytroops operationswho andserved regionalin securityHonduras objectivesfrom during1981 ato period1992. of significant geopolitical instability in Central America;

and  WHEREAS,CURRENT theseVERSION operationsOF wereTEXT conducted     inIntroduced furtherancePending ofTechnical UnitedReview Statesby nationalLegislative securityCounsel. interests, including efforts to deter the expansion of communist influence throughout the region and to stabilize democratic governments in Central America;

and   WHEREAS,An serviceAssembly membersResolution stationedurging Congress to issue an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, or similar recognition, to United States troops who served in Honduras duringfrom this1981 periodto operated1992.  under  hazardousWhereas, andNew austereJersey conditions,believes oftenthat inall supportservice ofmembers jointshould be respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and combinedbe operations,recognized trainingfor exercises,the sacrifices they and contingencytheir missionsloved associatedones withhave regionalmade conflict;on behalf of this great country;

and WHEREAS,Whereas, betweenThe 1981United States military maintained a presence in Honduras throughout the 1980s and 1992,early 471990s, Purpleoffering Heartstraining, wereproviding awardedcombat tosupport, serviceand membersconducting formilitary woundsexercises sustainedwith duringthe operationshost H.nation;

C.and 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;

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

No.and Whereas, United States service members lost their lives while in Honduras due to terrorist activity and hazardous circumstances;

56and *HR26/R2650*Whereas, ~This OFFICIALHouse ~believes N1/2all 26/HR26/R2650service PAGEmembers 1who (DJ\KW)serve connectedor tohave thisserved mission,in twohostile Prisonerenvironments ofshould Warbe Medalsappropriately wererecognized issued,by andthe fourissuance Airof Medalsan wereArmed awarded,Forces reflectingExpeditionary theMedal dangerousor naturesimilar ofrecognition; the service performed;

and WHEREAS,Whereas, theThis awardingHouse ofbelieves theseit decorationsfitting evidencesand theappropriate presencefor ofCongress hostileto orrecognize imminent-dangerall conditionsUnited consistentStates withtroops thewho criteriaserved traditionallyin associatedHonduras withfrom expeditionary1981 militaryto operations;1992;

andnow, WHEREAS,therefore, in  1996,     theBe UnitedIt StatesResolved Congressby authorized and the PresidentGeneral Assembly of the UnitedState States approved the issuance of theNew ArmedJersey: 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,     many1.    UnitedThis StatesHouse militaryurges personnelCongress supportingto operationsissue inan ElArmed SalvadorForces wereExpeditionary stationedMedal, or similar recognition of having served in oran operatedarea fromof Honduras,hostility, creatingto aall disparityUnited inStates recognitiontroops amongwho similarlyserved situatedin serviceHonduras members;from 1981 to 1992.

and  WHEREAS,     national2.    veteransCopies serviceof organizations,this includingresolution, as filed with the VeteransSecretary of ForeignState, Wars,shall be transmitted by the AmericanClerk Legion,of andthe General Assembly to the DisabledMajority Americanand Veterans,Minority haveLeaders adoptedof formalthe resolutionsUnited supportingStates Senate, the issuanceSpeaker and Minority Leader of the ArmedUnited ForcesStates ExpeditionaryHouse Medalof toRepresentatives, veteransand whoeach servedmember inof HondurasCongress duringelected thefrom specifiedthis period;State.

andSTATEMENT WHEREAS,  multiple     statesThis haveAssembly adoptedresolution urges Congress to issue an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, or aresimilar activelyrecognition consideringof concurrenthaving resolutionsserved memorializingin Congressan area of hostility, to takeall correctiveUnited action,States includingtroops Northwho Dakota,served Newin Jersey,Honduras Missouri,from H.1981 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.