S. 858 (119th)Bill Overview

Hershel ‘Woody' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act

Public Lands and Natural Resources|Conflicts and warsCongressional tributes
Cosponsors
Support
Lean Republican
Introduced
Mar 5, 2025
Discussions
Bill Text
Current stageCommittee

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Introduced
Committee
Floor
President
Law
Congressional Activities
01 · The brief
Plain-English summaryWhat this bill actually does

Authorizes the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to locate the National Medal of Honor commemorative work within the Reserve on the National Mall, notwithstanding 40 U.S.C. 8908(c). The bill preserves applicability of the Commemorative Works Act except for the specified site waiver, and cites historical and symbolic reasons for proximity to the Lincoln Memorial.

Why people may split

All praise honoring veterans; liberals push for public input safeguards.

Watch point

Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a narrowly framed commemorative-location authorization that is legally precise about which statutory provision is being excepted and how existing law otherwise applies.

Authorizes the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to locate the National Medal of Honor commemorative work within the Reserve on the National Mall, notwithstanding 40 U.S.C. 8908(c).

The bill preserves applicability of the Commemorative Works Act except for the specified site waiver, and cites historical and symbolic reasons for proximity to the Lincoln Memorial.

Passage80/100

Very narrow, symbolic change with minimal fiscal impact and broad appeal; main obstacles are committee prioritization and any preservation objections.

CredibilityAligned

Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a narrowly framed commemorative-location authorization that is legally precise about which statutory provision is being excepted and how existing law otherwise applies. It succeeds at the core task of changing location authorization within the statutory scheme.

Contention20/100

All praise honoring veterans; liberals push for public input safeguards.

02 · What it does

Who stands to gain, and who may push back.

Likely benefits vs burdens50% / 50%
Likely helpedFederal agencies

These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.

Likely helped
  • Potential benefitCould generate short-term construction and related jobs during design and build phases.
  • Potential benefitPlaces a high-profile memorial honoring Medal of Honor recipients at a central, symbolic Mall location.
  • Potential benefitMay increase tourism and visitor spending near the Mall depending on monument prominence.
Likely burdened
  • Potential burdenWaives a prior statutory Restriction, setting a precedent for locating new memorials inside the Reserve.
  • Potential burdenMay diminish open space or alter historic sightlines and landscape character of the National Mall.
  • Federal agenciesCould create additional long‑term maintenance, security, or operational costs for federal park agencies.
03 · Why people split

Why the argument around this bill splits.

All praise honoring veterans; liberals push for public input safeguards.
Progressive80%

Mainstream progressive observers will likely view the bill favorably as a recognition of veterans and national sacrifice.

They may still press for safeguards on public-land use, transparency, and inclusive context about war and service.

Some could express concern about setting precedent for waiving Mall protections.

Leans supportive
Centrist70%

A moderate would likely support honoring Medal of Honor recipients while asking practical questions about precedent, process, and costs.

They will weigh symbolic value against protecting the Reserve and existing law.

If the Foundation funds construction and the approval process remains robust, they will be inclined to back it.

Leans supportive
Conservative90%

Mainstream conservatives will likely strongly support placing the Medal of Honor monument near the Lincoln Memorial as fitting recognition for military valor.

They will favor honoring veterans and may oppose strict statutory barriers that prevent such placement.

Some might still seek assurance that no permanent federal spending or mission creep results.

Leans supportive
04 · Can it pass?

The path through Congress.

Introduced

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Committee

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Floor

Still ahead

President

Still ahead

Law

Still ahead

Passage likelihood80/100

Very narrow, symbolic change with minimal fiscal impact and broad appeal; main obstacles are committee prioritization and any preservation objections.

Scope and complexity
24%
Scopenarrow
24%
Complexitylow
Why this could stall
  • Whether relevant committees prioritize this bill
  • Potential objections on Reserve precedent or Mall planning
05 · Recent votes

Recent votes on the bill.

No vote history yet

The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.

06 · Go deeper

Go deeper than the headline read.

Included on this page

All praise honoring veterans; liberals push for public input safeguards.

Very narrow, symbolic change with minimal fiscal impact and broad appeal; main obstacles are committee prioritization and any preservation…

Unlocked analysis

Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a narrowly framed commemorative-location authorization that is legally precise about which statutory provision is being excepted and how existing law otherwise app…

Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.

Perspective breakdownsPassage barriersLegislative design reviewStakeholder impact map
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