H.R. 3377: 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.
Sponsor
Ralph Norman
Republican · SC-5
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 4, 2026
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Congress reopens the Medal of Honor for a Vietnam Marine
Why it matters
James Capers, Jr. earned the Silver Star — the military's third-highest combat award — for four days of fighting in Vietnam in 1967. Nearly 60 years later, both the House and Senate have voted to let the President upgrade that to the Medal of Honor, clearing away the legal deadline that had blocked it.
H.R. 3377 does one specific thing: it removes the legal deadline that would otherwise block a Medal of Honor for James Capers, Jr. The bill does not hand him the medal. It gives the President the legal authority to award it.
The valor in question took place over four days, from March 31 through April 3, 1967, in the Vietnam War. Capers was already recognized for those actions with the Silver Star, the military's third-highest decoration for combat bravery. This bill opens the door to upgrading that recognition to the Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. military award.
Normally, the Medal of Honor has to be awarded within a few years of the act of valor. That window closed long ago for Capers. Congress occasionally passes a one-off bill like this when supporters argue an old case deserves a fresh look — often because deadlines, lost records, or past inequities got in the way the first time.
The measure is written for one person. It does not change the medals system for anyone else. Its weight is mostly symbolic: Congress signaling it is willing to revisit a decades-old valor case when supporters make the case that extraordinary bravery was never fully honored.
H.R. 3377 Bill Summary
What H.R. 3377 actually does.
The decades-old deadline gets lifted
Federal law normally requires the Medal of Honor to be awarded within a few years of the act of valor. The bill sets that time limit aside for this case.
Written for one Marine, not all veterans
The authorization names James Capers, Jr. specifically. It does not create a general rule that other service members can use.
The President gets the authority, not the order
The bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor under existing law, but it does not require the award to be made.
Tied to four days in 1967
The authorization covers Capers' actions from March 31 through April 3, 1967, during the Vietnam War.
An upgrade from the Silver Star
The possible Medal of Honor would recognize the same actions for which Capers already received the Silver Star, the third-highest valor award.
Who benefits from H.R. 3377?
James Capers, Jr.
A retired Marine officer who now has a legal path to be considered for the Medal of Honor, even though the usual deadline expired decades ago.
His family and the supporters who pushed for this
People who spent years arguing his Vietnam actions deserved the highest honor now have a formal vote behind that effort.
Vietnam veterans seeking overdue recognition
The vote signals that Congress is open to revisiting older valor cases when supporters present evidence the original award fell short.
Marine Corps and military history advocates
Groups that track and champion battlefield valor cases gain a public example of an old case being reopened.
Who is affected by H.R. 3377?
The President
Receives explicit authority to make the award despite the time limits that would normally apply.
Defense Department awards officials
May handle the final review, documentation, and logistics if the award moves forward.
Congress
Acted through a single-case bill rather than changing the broader medals system for everyone.
Other veterans with old valor claims
Not covered by the bill, but its passage may raise expectations for similar exceptions in other delayed-award cases.
What Congress Said
H.R. 3377 was signed into law on Mar 5, 2026.
H.R. 3377 also appeared in 1 more House floor reference, 1 more Senate floor reference, and 6 routine cosponsor filings.
HR3377 Legislative Journey
Action Taken
Mar 4, 2026
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed
Mar 3, 2026
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S767)
+1 more action this day
Sent to Senate
Feb 4, 2026
Received in the Senate, read twice.
House: Passed
Feb 3, 2026
On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H1967)
+6 more actions this day
House: Committee Action
May 13, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
About the Sponsor
Ralph Norman
Republican, South Carolina's 5th congressional district · 9 years in Congress
Committees: the Budget, Rules, Financial Services
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Armed Services Committee
0 of 57 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
30 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 3377 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Armed Services
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Introduced
- May 13, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 4, 2026
Official Sources
Official bill page with full text, actions timeline, and congressional status for the bill authorizing the Medal of Honor for James Capers, Jr.
The statute under which the President would award the Medal of Honor. Authorizes the award for naval service members who distinguish themselves by gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.
The time limitation statute that HR 3377 waives. Normally requires the Medal of Honor to be awarded within five years of the act of valor, with a recommendation filed within three years.
The second time limitation statute waived by HR 3377, which sets a five-year deadline for presenting military decorations.
The enacted text of HR 3377 as Private Law 119-1, signed into law on March 26, 2026, authorizing the Medal of Honor for James Capers, Jr.
White House statement confirming the President signed HR 3377 into law on March 26, 2026.
Machine-readable bill status data from the Government Publishing Office, tracking all legislative actions from introduction through enactment as Private Law 119-1.
H.R. 3377 Common Questions
Can James Capers, Jr. still receive the Medal of Honor decades after Vietnam?
Yes. H.R. 3377 lets the President award him the Medal of Honor even though the normal deadline expired long ago. The bill removes the legal time limit that had been standing in the way.
Does H.R. 3377 automatically give James Capers, Jr. the Medal of Honor?
No. The bill authorizes the President to make the award, but it does not award the medal itself. The final decision rests with the President.
What did James Capers, Jr. do to earn this recognition?
The bill covers his actions as a Marine over four days, March 31 through April 3, 1967, during the Vietnam War. He was already awarded the Silver Star, the military's third-highest combat decoration, for those same actions.
Why did Congress have to pass a law just to allow this award?
Federal law normally requires the Medal of Honor to be awarded within a few years of the act of valor. That window closed decades ago for Capers, so Congress passed a bill to set the deadline aside for his case.
Does H.R. 3377 apply to other veterans seeking overdue medals?
No. The bill is written for James Capers, Jr. alone. It does not create a general rule that other veterans can use to get past military award deadlines.
Has H.R. 3377 passed Congress?
Yes. The House passed it by unanimous consent on February 3, 2026, and the Senate passed it the same way on March 3, 2026. It now awaits action by the President.
Who is James Capers, Jr.?
He is a retired Marine Corps officer recognized for valor in the Vietnam War. H.R. 3377 concerns his combat actions in 1967, for which he previously received the Silver Star.
Based on H.R. 3377 bill text
H.R. 3377 Bill Text
“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.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
Get notified when H.R. 3377 moves
Committee votes, floor action, cosponsor changes — straight to your inbox.
Bill alerts + Legisletter's monthly briefing. Unsubscribe anytime.
Armed Forces and National Security Bills
9 related bills we're tracking
Major Richard Star Act
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Apr 4, 2025
Air America Act of 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select).
Mar 18, 2025
Love Lives On Act of 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Feb 3, 2026
GUARD VA Benefits Act
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Mar 27, 2025
Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 23, 2025
Major Richard Star Act
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Mar 13, 2025
SAVES Act
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 264.
Sep 26, 2025
Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 292.
Dec 9, 2025
RESTRAIN Act
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4779-4780)
Nov 19, 2025
Trending Right Now
Bills gaining momentum across Congress
AADAPT Act
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.
May 21, 2026
Buying American Cotton Act of 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 22, 2026
West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 28, 2025
Tracking Armed Forces and National Security in Congress? Monitor bills, track cosponsor momentum, and launch advocacy campaigns — all from one advocacy platform.