MISSISSIPPIUNOFFICIAL LEGISLATURECOPY REGULAR26 SESSIONRS 2026BR By:2559 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the United States Congress to support efforts to issue an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, or similar recognition of having served in an area of hostility, to all United States servicemembers who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992.

RepresentativesWHEREAS, Hall,the Barton,Commonwealth Boydof To:Kentucky believes military members and veterans who serve or have served in hostile environments should be recognized;

Rulesand (19th),WHEREAS, Byrd,the Carpenter,United Eubanks,States Hulum,military Morgan,maintained Newman,a Pigott,presence Tullosin HOUSEHonduras CONCURRENTthroughout RESOLUTIONand NO.beyond the 1980s, providing training to and conducting military exercises with the host nation's military;

56and AWHEREAS, CONCURRENTthe RESOLUTIONbuildup MEMORIALIZINGand THEpresence UNITEDof STATESUnited CONGRESSStates TOservicemembers AUTHORIZEserved ANDas DIRECTa THEdeterrent ISSUANCEto OFNicaraguan THEaggression ARMEDin FORCESthe EXPEDITIONARYregion MEDALand TOalso VETERANSmeant OFan THEincrease UNITEDof STATESsupport ARMEDfor FORCESdemocratic WHOvalues SERVEDvia INcivil HONDURASaction FROMin 1981Honduran THROUGHcommunities; 1992.

WHEREAS, between 1981 and 1992,WHEREAS, members of the United States Armedservicemembers Forces were deployedequipped towith Honduraslive inammunition supportand ofassisted Unitedthe StatesHonduran military operationsin training and regionalcombat securitysupport objectivescapacities; during a period of significant geopolitical instability in Central America;

and WHEREAS, these operations were conducted in furtherance of United States nationalservicemembers securityreported interests,experiencing includinghostile effortsfire to deter the expansion of communist influence throughout the region and toimminent stabilizedanger. democratic governments in Central America;

andAt WHEREAS,least serviceone membersUnited stationedStates inservicemember Hondurasreceived duringa thisPurple periodHeart operatedfor underinjuries hazardoussustained andas austerea conditions,result often in support of jointterrorist andactivity combinedwhile operations,serving trainingin exercises,Honduras andin contingency1990; missions associated with regional conflict;

and WHEREAS, betweenUnited 1981States andservicemembers 1992,lost 47their Purplelives Heartswhile wereconducting awardedvarious tomilitary serviceduties memberswhile forin woundsHonduras sustaineddue duringto operationsterrorist H.activity and other hazardous circumstances;

C.NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Senate concurring therein:

R.Section 1.

No.The Kentucky General Assembly hereby urges the United States Congress to support efforts to issue an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, or similar recognition of having served in an area of hostility, to all United States servicemembers who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992.

56Page *HR26/R2650* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 26/HR26/R2650 PAGE 1 (DJ\KW) connected to this mission, two Prisoner of War2 MedalsXXXX were3/16/2026 issued,9:26 andAM fourJacketed AirUNOFFICIAL MedalsCOPY were26 awarded,RS reflectingBR the2559 dangerousSection nature2. of the service performed;

andThe WHEREAS,Clerk of the awardingHouse of theseRepresentatives decorationsis evidencesdirected to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the presencemembers of hostilethe orKentucky imminent-dangercongressional conditionsdelegation, consistentthe withPresident of the criteriaUnited traditionallyStates, associatedthe withUnited expeditionaryStates militarySecretary operations;of Veterans Affairs, and Representative DJ Johnson.

andPage WHEREAS,2 in 1996, the United States Congress authorized and the President of the2 UnitedXXXX States3/16/2026 approved9:26 theAM issuanceJacketed of the 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, many United States military personnel supporting operations in El Salvador were stationed in or operated from Honduras, creating a disparity in recognition among similarly situated service members;

and WHEREAS, national veterans service organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans, have adopted formal resolutions supporting the issuance of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to veterans who served in Honduras during the specified period;

and WHEREAS, multiple states have adopted or are actively considering concurrent resolutions memorializing Congress to take corrective action, including North Dakota, New Jersey, Missouri, H.

C.

R.

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.

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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.