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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 8973

Sergeant Rafael Peralta Medal of Honor Authorization Act

Medal of Honor: Authorization for Sergeant Rafael Peralta

This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is being reviewed by the House Committee on Armed Services. It was recently introduced and is considered active as it waits for further committee action. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law
Could go either way

This bill has support from both parties, but similar efforts for this specific Marine have faced hurdles in the past from military leadership reviews.

Key Points

  • This bill allows the government to give the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Rafael Peralta, a Marine who died in 2004. It removes legal time limits that usually stop medals from being awarded many years after a battle took place.
  • During a house-clearing mission in Fallujah, Iraq, Peralta was shot and mortally wounded. His fellow Marines reported that he then pulled an enemy grenade under his body to absorb the blast and save the lives of those around him.
  • The bill states that Peralta's actions showed extreme courage and sacrifice. It aims to ensure that his heroism is recognized with the nation's highest military award despite previous administrative delays or rules.
  • If the bill passes, it gives the president the legal authority to officially grant the Medal of Honor to Peralta's family in recognition of his service and bravery.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
May 21, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

May 21, 2026

Introduced in House

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.

News

No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Sergeant Rafael Peralta Medal of Honor Authorization Act

Bill NumberHR 8973
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.