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119-hr-9595119th Congress

Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto Medal of Honor Act

Sponsored By: Representative Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]

Introduced

Summary

Would authorize a posthumous Medal of Honor for Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto. The bill would override statutory time limits in Title 10 to allow the President to award the Medal of Honor and records findings about his Army service from 1959 to 1970, five tours in Vietnam and more than 200 combat and aerial missions. It lists 38 decorations, including two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with V for valor, five Purple Hearts, and seven Air Medals. It highlights his May 1, 1968 action during Operation Carentan II and notes his later work as a veterans' counselor and his death on October 14, 2024 at age 87.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Medal of Honor for Jorge Otero Barreto

This bill would allow the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto. The award would be for acts of valor while he served in the Army during the Vietnam War and would be made under 10 U.S.C. 7271. The bill would override the time limits in 10 U.S.C. 7274 and any other time limits that would otherwise block the award. The change would take effect upon enactment and would provide honorary recognition only; it would not create new federal payments or change benefit programs.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]

PR • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/6/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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