H.R. 8131

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8131 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8131

To authorize the creation of a service ribbon to be awarded to a member 
of the National Guard who performs homeland defense duty.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 27, 2026

Mr. Higgins of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize the creation of a service ribbon to be awarded to a member 
of the National Guard who performs homeland defense duty.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds as follows:
(1) Section 252 of title 10, United States Code, authorizes 
the President, whenever the President considers that unlawful 
obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion 
against the authority of the United States, make it 
impracticable to enforce the laws of the United States in any 
State by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, he may 
call into Federal service the militia of any State, and use 
such of the Armed Forces, as he considers necessary to enforce 
those laws or to suppress the rebellion.
(2) The National Guard, under title 32 and title 10 
authority, ensures the survivability of Federal law enforcement 
personnel, facilities, and citizens, in the protection of the 
Homeland and the American way of life.
(3) President Trump, by Presidential Memorandum titled 
``Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the 
United States and Repelling Invasions'' dated April 11, 2025, 
granted authority to the Secretary of War to authorize and 
request that State Governors order members of the National 
Guard under authority of title 32 of the United States Code to 
conduct Department of Defense activities, including, as 
appropriate, to support law enforcement activities, U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, border security operations, and 
provide aviation, reconnaissance, and logistical expertise in 
support of Department of Homeland Security mission requests.
(4) President Trump, by Presidential Memorandum titled 
``Department of Defense Security for the Protection of Homeland 
Security Functions'' dated June 7, 2025, directed the lawful 
mobilization of at least 2,000 National Guard troops under 
section 12406 of title 10, United States Code, to protect 
Department of Homeland Security personnel and Federal property 
where unlawful violent protests against necessary Federal 
enforcement actions were occurring.
(5) The National Guard, lawfully mobilized in support of 
President Trump's Presidential Executive Order 14333 
``Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia'' 
dated August 11, 2025, the National Guard supported more than 
1,914 arrests between August and September 2025, removing 198 
firearms from the street and disrupting homeless encampments, 
providing clean and safe streets and parks to the citizens of 
the city.
(6) The District of Columbia, with a strong National Guard 
and Federal law enforcement presence, saw a decline in overall 
crime of 17 percent in 2025 compared with the same period in 
the previous year.
(7) The District of Columbia saw a decline in homicides of 
32 percent in 2025 compared with the same period in the 
previous year.
(8) The District of Columbia saw a decline in assaults with 
dangerous weapons of 10 percent in 2025 compared with the same 
period in the previous year.
(9) The District of Columbia saw a decline in robberies of 
37 percent in 2025 compared with the same period in the 
previous year.
(10) The National Guard, lawfully mobilized in support of 
President Trump's Presidential Memorandum titled ``Restoring 
Law and Order in Memphis,'' dated September 15, 2025, to 
restore law and order in Memphis, Tennessee, supported public 
safety and law enforcement operations.
(11) The Honorable Pete Hegseth, as authorized by President 
Trump's Presidential Memorandum titled ``Department of War 
Security for the Protection of Federal Personnel and Property 
in Illinois'' dated October 4, 2025, extended National Guard 
troop deployments to Illinois in response to credible threats 
of continued violence and interference with officers upholding 
the laws of the United States, to protect vital ICE, FPS, and 
other Federal personnel.
(12) The National Guard has provided safety, security, and 
predictability to law-abiding American citizens in American 
cities that were previously overrun by criminal illegal aliens, 
gang members, and criminals threatening the peace.
(13) National Guard troops have contributed to the most 
significant one-year drop in homicides on record.
(14) National Guard troop presence in communities 
contributed to a national decline in rapes by 4,175 monthly 
occurrences between June and December of 2025.
(15) National Guard troop presence in communities 
contributed to a national decline in robberies by 5,604 monthly 
occurrences between June and December of 2025.
(16) National Guard troop presence in communities 
contributed to a national decline in aggravated assaults by 
27,521 monthly occurrences between June and December 2025.
(17) The National Guard, in support of President Trump's 
strong commitment to the American people by setting Federal 
policies in support of public safety and border security, 
contributed to a decline in opioid-related deaths by 25,695 
monthly occurrences between June and October 2025.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF SERVICE RIBBON FOR A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL 
GUARD WHO PERFORMS HOMELAND DEFENSE DUTY.

(a) Ribbon Authorized.--The Secretary of the military department 
concerned may award a service ribbon to a member of the National Guard 
who performs duty under chapter 9 of title 32, United States Code.
(b) Design.--The ribbon shall be of an appropriate design approved 
by the Secretary of Defense.
(c) Issuance to Next-of-Kin.--If the member is deceased, the 
Secretary of the military department concerned may issue such a ribbon 
to the next-of-kin of the member.
(d) Regulations.--The award of a ribbon under this section shall be 
subject to such regulations as the Secretaries of the military 
departments concerned shall prescribe for purposes of this section. The 
Secretary of Defense shall ensure that any regulations prescribed under 
this subsection are uniform to the extent practicable.
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