WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to honor and recognize the sacrifices of Purple Heart medal recipients. The Honoring Purple Heart Recipients Act of 2022 would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to give future Purple Heart recipients the option of being listed on the DOD military awards website, and create a lasting historical record of these American servicemembers. This bill builds on Senator King’s efforts to preserve and honor the sacrifices of Maine and America’s veterans with his Answering the Call, Maine’s Veteran Voices series.

“Purple Heart recipients are true heroes who’ve put themselves in harms’ way to defend our country and their fellow servicemembers – some paying the ultimate price. As Americans, we have a collective responsibility to recognize, honor, and remember this sacrifice,” said Senator King. “The Honoring Purple Heart Recipients Act would give our Purple Heart heroes the choice of receiving additional well-deserved recognition via the DOD website, to create a lasting historical record of these greatest Americans for generations to come. For all that these Purple Heart recipients have done for our country, this is the least we can do.”

The Purple Heart medal is awarded to U.S. military servicemembers who are wounded or killed while serving. 2022 marks the 240th anniversary of the establishment of the precursor to the Purple Heart—the Badge of Military Merit—by George Washington in 1782 and the 90th anniversary of the re-established Purple Heart award.

Along with Senator King the legislation was introduced by Senators Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Angus King (I-Maine), Rick Scott (R-Fl.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.). Several organizations have voiced support for the Honoring Purple Heart Recipients Act of 2022, including the National Flag Foundation, Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Legion, Marine Corps League, Gold Star Mothers, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of veterans per capita, Senator King has been a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. King has worked to honor and preserve the stories of America’s veterans with his Answering the Call interview series in partnership with the Library of Congress. He also recently introduced the Save Our Servicemembers (S.O.S.) Act, which would work to improve Department of Defense’s servicemember suicide prevention efforts, and has worked to improve the services for Maine veterans across the state, including at the Togus campus in Augusta.