To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Capers, Jr., for acts of valor as a member of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
Introduced May 13, 2025 · Last action March 26, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Capers, Jr., a former Marine who served in the Vietnam War, bypassing the normal time limits that would otherwise prevent such an award decades after the events occurred. Capers previously received the Silver Star for acts of valor between March 31 and April 3, 1967, and this bill removes legal barriers to upgrading that award to the Medal of Honor.
Who benefits
James Capers, Jr., a Vietnam War veteran and former Marine Corps member, who receives authorization for Medal of Honor consideration and potential receipt.
Who pays / loses
No specific group pays a financial cost or loses a tangible benefit; this is a ceremonial and honors award with no direct fiscal impact on individuals or organizations.
Funding & Lobbying Interests
No financial interests or lobbying groups have a stake in this bill. The sponsor, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC-5), received modest campaign contributions from defense ($1,500), agriculture ($3,550), finance ($6,230), law ($2,000), and other sectors ($117,357.52) in the 2024 cycle, but those contributions are unrelated to this ceremonial award bill. No PAC contributions were recorded.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
James Capers, Jr., a Vietnam War veteran; other Medal of Honor recipients and medal award processes are indirectly affected by the statutory waiver of time limits.
Political Subtext
Proponents argue this recognizes long-overdue valor by a Vietnam War veteran and corrects an administrative delay in medal award procedures. There is no significant partisan controversy over individual Medal of Honor awards. The bill removes bureaucratic barriers to honoring military service. No organized opposition or debate is evident.
Real-World Stakes
If this passes, James Capers, Jr., becomes eligible for Medal of Honor consideration and potential award, elevating his military recognition from the Silver Star to the nation's highest military decoration. Medal of Honor awards carry symbolic, ceremonial, and modest financial benefits (Medal of Honor recipients receive a monthly stipend, currently approximately $1,628 per month, though the bill text does not specify this amount). Congress has historically passed similar private bills to waive Medal of Honor time limits for specific veterans; no adverse precedent exists from such waivers.
Sponsor
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
Top contributing industries
Other$117,357.52
Finance$6,230
Agriculture$3,550
Law$2,000
Defense$1,500
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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