MISSISSIPPI2025-2026 LEGISLATUREBill REGULAR5262 SESSIONText 2026of By:Previous Version (Feb.

Representatives26, Hall,2026) Barton,- BoydSouth To:Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 5262Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.

RulesDocument (19th),has Byrd,been Carpenter,reformatted Eubanks,to Hulum,meet Morgan,World Newman,Wide Pigott,Web Tullosspecifications.) HOUSE  CONCURRENT              A house RESOLUTION NO.  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.

56  AWhereas, CONCURRENTSouth RESOLUTIONCarolina MEMORIALIZINGbelieves THEthat UNITEDall STATESservice CONGRESSmembers TOshould AUTHORIZEbe ANDrespected DIRECTfor THEtheir ISSUANCEservice, OFalways THEreceive ARMEDtheir FORCESearned EXPEDITIONARYentitlements, MEDALand TObe VETERANSrecognized OFfor THEthe UNITEDsacrifices STATESthey ARMEDand FORCEStheir WHOloved SERVEDones INhave HONDURASmade FROMon 1981behalf THROUGHof 1992.this great country;

WHEREAS, between 1981 and 1992,  membersWhereas, of the United States Armedmilitary Forcesmaintained werea deployedpresence toin Honduras inthroughout supportthe of1980s Unitedand Statesearly military1990s, operationsoffering andtraining, regionalproviding securitycombat objectivessupport, duringand aconducting periodmilitary ofexercises significantwith geopoliticalthe instabilityhost innation; Central America;

and WHEREAS,  theseWhereas, operationsthe werepresence conducted in furtherance of the United States nationaltroops securityserved interests,as includinga effortsdeterrent to deteraggression in the expansionregion ofand communistas influencea throughoutmeans theof regionsupport andfor todemocratic stabilizevalues democraticthrough governmentscivil action in CentralHonduran America;communities;

and WHEREAS,  serviceWhereas, membersUnited stationedStates introops Hondurasexperienced duringhostile thisfire periodand operatedimminent underdanger, hazardous and austereat conditions,least oftenone inservice supportmember ofreceived jointa andpurple combinedheart operations,because trainingof exercises,terrorist andactivity; contingency missions associated with regional conflict;

and WHEREAS,  betweenWhereas, 1981United andStates 1992,service 47members Purplelost Heartstheir werelives awardedwhile toin serviceHonduras membersdue forto woundsterrorist sustainedactivity duringand operationshazardous H.circumstances;

C.and   Whereas, all service members who serve or have served in hostile environments should be appropriately recognized by the issuance of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or similar recognition;

R.and   Whereas, it is fitting and appropriate for Congress to recognize all United States troops who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992.

No.Now, therefore,   Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

56  *HR26/R2650*That ~the OFFICIALmembers ~of N1/2the 26/HR26/R2650South PAGECarolina 1House (DJ\KW)of connectedRepresentatives, toby this mission,resolution, twourge PrisonerCongress ofto Warissue Medalsan wereArmed issued,Forces andExpeditionary fourMedal, Airor Medalssimilar wererecognition, awarded,to reflectingall theUnited dangerousStates naturetroops ofwho theserved servicein performed;Honduras from to 1992.

and  WHEREAS,Be theit awardingfurther resolved that a copy of thesethis decorationsresolution evidencesbe thepresented presenceto majority and minority leaders of hostilethe orUnited imminent-dangerStates conditionsSenate, consistentthe withmajority and minority leaders of the criteriaUnited traditionallyStates associatedHouse withof expeditionaryRepresentatives, militaryand operations;to each member of Congress elected from this State.

and----XX---- WHEREAS,This inweb 1996,page thewas Unitedlast Statesupdated Congresson authorizedFebruary and26, the2026 Presidentat of11:06 theAM United States approved the issuance 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.

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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.