Robert Lodge Medal of Honor Act

119th Congress Introduced by Jake Ellzey and 3 co-sponsors

The bill would authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Robert Lodge for valor in Vietnam, without creating new funding or programs.

Introduced in House

Summary of HR 9106 (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

HR 9106 aims to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Robert Lodge for acts of valor as a member of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.

The bill seeks to formalize the process for recognizing Lodge’s heroic actions with the nation’s highest military decoration.

Key provisions and changes

Authorization for Medal of Honor Award: The core provision would authorize the President to present the Medal of Honor to Robert Lodge for valorous conduct during his Air Force service in Vietnam.

Eligibility and Qualifications: The bill explicitly designates Lodge’s actions as meeting the standards for Medal of Honor consideration, providing the basis for presidential awarding.

No new program funding: The bill focuses on recognition and does not introduce new appropriations or create a new program or administrative structure, based on its text as introduced.

Congressional action: Approval would require standard constitutional and statutory processes for awarding the Medal of Honor, including any necessary recommendations, reviews, and official designation.

Affected parties and impact

Robert Lodge: The principal individual recipient of the Medal of Honor if the bill becomes law.

United States Air Force and Department of Defense: The action would culminate in a formal military decoration, reflecting positively on the branch and service history.

Our understanding of Vietnam War-era valor: The bill contributes to the historical record by recognizing specific heroic actions during the conflict.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and referral: The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services on June 2, 2026.

Sponsors and co-sponsors: Primary sponsor and co-sponsors include Reps. Darrell Issa, August Pfluger, and Jake Ellzey, indicating bipartisan and veteran-community support.

Next steps: If reported out of committee favorably, the bill would proceed to floor consideration for full House action, and, if enacted, would require passage by the Senate (and presidential signature) to become law.

Additional notes

The bill, as introduced, focuses narrowly on authorizing the Medal of Honor for a specific veteran and does not outline broader policy changes or additional criteria beyond the standard Medal of Honor awarding framework.

The existence of co-sponsors with known military-veteran backgrounds may indicate concerted support from lawmakers with interest in recognizing Vietnam-era valor.

If you’d like, I can compare HR 9106 to prior Medal of Honor designation processes or provide a plain-language timeline of how a Medal of Honor bill typically progresses through Congress.