MISSISSIPPI2025-2026 LEGISLATUREBill REGULAR5262: SESSION 2026 By:

RepresentativesArmed Hall,Forces Barton,Expeditionary BoydMedal To:- South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Download This Bill in Microsoft Word FormatIndicates Matter StrickenIndicates New MatterH.

Rules5262STATUS (19th),INFORMATIONHouse Byrd,ResolutionSponsors: Carpenter, Eubanks, Hulum, Morgan, Newman, Pigott, Tullos HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.

56Rep. A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES 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.

WHEREAS,BurnsDocument betweenPath: 1981 and 1992, members of the United States Armed Forces were deployed to Honduras in support of United States military operations and regional security objectives during a period of significant geopolitical instability in Central America;

andLC-0212PH-PH26.docxIntroduced WHEREAS, these operations were conducted in furtherancethe ofHouse Unitedon StatesFebruary national26, security2026Currently interests,residing includingin efforts to deter the expansionHouse ofCommittee communiston influenceInvitations throughout the region and toMemorial stabilizeResolutionsSummary: democratic governments in Central America;

andArmed WHEREAS,Forces serviceExpeditionary membersMedalHISTORY stationedOF inLEGISLATIVE HondurasACTIONS duringDate thisBody periodAction operatedDescription underwith hazardousjournal andpage austerenumber conditions,2/26/2026 oftenHouse inIntroduced support(House ofJournal-page joint6) and2/26/2026 combinedHouse operations,Referred trainingto exercises,Committee on Invitations and contingencyMemorial missionsResolutions associated(House withJournal-page regional6) conflict;View the latest legislative information at the websiteVERSIONS OF THIS BILL02/26/2026                 A house RESOLUTION   to urge congress to issue an armed forces expeditionary medal, or similar recognition, to all United States troops who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992.

and  WHEREAS,Whereas, betweenSouth 1981Carolina andbelieves 1992,that 47all Purpleservice Heartsmembers wereshould awardedbe torespected servicefor memberstheir service, always receive their earned entitlements, and be recognized for woundsthe sustainedsacrifices duringthey operationsand H.their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country;

C.and   Whereas, 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;

R.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;

No.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;

56and *HR26/R2650*  ~Whereas, OFFICIALUnited ~States N1/2service 26/HR26/R2650members PAGElost 1their (DJ\KW)lives connectedwhile toin thisHonduras mission,due twoto Prisonerterrorist ofactivity War Medals were issued, and fourhazardous Aircircumstances; Medals were awarded, reflecting the dangerous nature of the service performed;

and WHEREAS,  theWhereas, awardingall ofservice thesemembers decorationswho evidencesserve theor presencehave ofserved in hostile orenvironments imminent-dangershould conditionsbe consistentappropriately withrecognized by the criteriaissuance traditionallyof associatedan withArmed expeditionaryForces militaryExpeditionary operations;Medal or similar recognition;

and WHEREAS,  inWhereas, 1996,it theis Unitedfitting Statesand Congressappropriate authorizedfor andCongress theto Presidentrecognize ofall the United States approvedtroops the issuance of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) to veterans who served in ElHonduras Salvadorfrom between 1981 andto 1992,1992. yet veterans who served in Honduras during the same period were not included in that authorization;

andNow, WHEREAS,therefore, many  UnitedBe Statesit militaryresolved personnelby supportingthe operationsHouse inof ElRepresentatives: Salvador were stationed in or operated from Honduras, creating a disparity in recognition among similarly situated service members;

and  WHEREAS,That national veterans service organizations, including the Veteransmembers of Foreign Wars, the AmericanSouth Legion,Carolina andHouse theof DisabledRepresentatives, Americanby Veterans,this haveresolution, adoptedurge formalCongress resolutionsto supportingissue thean issuance of the Armed Forces Expeditionary MedalMedal, or similar recognition, to veteransall United States troops who served in Honduras duringfrom theto specified1992. period;

  Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to majority and WHEREAS,minority multipleleaders statesof havethe adoptedUnited orStates areSenate, activelythe consideringmajority concurrentand resolutionsminority memorializingleaders Congressof tothe takeUnited correctiveStates action,House includingof NorthRepresentatives, Dakota,and Newto Jersey,each Missouri,member H.of Congress elected from this State.

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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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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.

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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.