U.S. Senators Wyden and Crapo Applaud House Passage of Their Bipartisan Legislation Honoring Medal of Honor Recipients

With President Biden’s signature, the longest U.S. highway will be designated as the “National Medal of Honor Highway”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Mike Crapo today applauded the U.S. House passage of their bipartisan legislation designating U.S. Highway 20 between Newport, Ore. and New England as the “National Medal of Honor Highway.”

“Our veterans in Oregon and throughout America deserve every honor we can bestow on them for their brave service to our nation,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified our country’s longest continuous highway, stretching from the Pacific to the Atlantic, will be designated as the ‘National Medal of Honor Highway,’ standing as a timeless tribute to the heroes of Oregon and America who helped make this grassroots movement a reality.” 

“Idaho’s veterans enrich our communities through service past and present. Medal of Honor recipients have acted well beyond the call of duty, and many continue to do so long after they leave military service.  This 3,000-mile recognition ensures all Medal of Honor recipients are honored across 12 states for many years to come,” Crapo said.

The bill, introduced by Wyden (D-OR) and Crapo (R-ID) , passed the Senate in December 2023. The House passed the bill this week with overwhelming bipartisan support. It now awaits President Biden’s signature to become law.

The Medal ofHonor is the nation’s highest military award for valor, presented by the President in Congress’ name. U.S. service members who distinguish themselves “through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” can receive the medal.

Legislatures and governors in all 12 states along U.S. Highway 20 have designated their state Medal of Honor Highways covering 100 percent of the 3,365-mile Medal of Honor Highway across America. The 12 states along U.S. Highway 20 account for about 62 percent of all 3,516 Medal of Honor awards presented since the Civil War. Designating U.S. Highway 20 as the “National Medal of Honor Highway” ensures all 3,516 recipients and any future recipients from all 50 states and territories are honored.

The House bill, led by U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA), was co-sponsored by Representatives Val Hoyle (D-OR-4), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-6), Cliff Bentz (R-OR-2), Lori Chavez DeRemer (R-OR-5], Brian Higgins (D-NY-26),Richard Neal (D-MA-1), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH); Jim Banks (R-IN-3), Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Mike Flood (R-NE-1), Adrian Smith (R-NE-3) and Chris Pappas (D-NH-1).

The legislation is supported by the Bend Heroes Foundation, Military Officers Association of America, The American Legion, Legion of Valor, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

“As the 6 year project manager of the National Medal of Honor Highway across America on U.S. Hwy 20, I thank Oregon Senator Ron Wyden for his outstanding leadership resulting in today’s House of Representatives passage of the National Medal of Honor Highway designation,” said Dick Tobiason, LTC US Army Retired, Chairman, Bend Heroes Foundation. “I am proud the project was launched in Oregon and Oregon’s federal legislators trusted me by sponsoring and cosponsoring legislation in the Senate (S.1478) and House of Representatives (H.R. 3149). And, I also thank my  Project Team of 12 state Medal of Honor Highway managers and the national veterans groups who supported the coast to coast National Medal of Honor Highway along our nation’s longest highway honoring the bravest of the brave  veterans who acted with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at  the risk of life earning the Medal of Honor award – our country’s highest award for valor during combat. Enactment of the legislation with President Biden’s signature fulfills my promise to the late WWII Medal of Honor recipient Robert D. “Bob” Maxwell, Director, Bend Heroes Foundation to honor all of our nation’s 3,519 recipients and all future recipients.”

The text of the Senate bill is here and the House bill is here.