Northeast Delegation June 29, 2023 | 4:59 PM
HARRISBURG, June 29 – State Rep. Kyle Donahue today praised the passage of legislation to expand decoration eligibility for military members of friendly foreign nations.
The bill, H.B. 1450, would allow the governor to award the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal and the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal to military members from friendly foreign nations.
“The current Military and Veterans Code only allows domestic military members and civilians to receive the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal and the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal. However, over the past 30 years, our National Guard has participated in a State Partnership Program with the military of the Republic of Lithuania. That partnership has benefited both forces as we work together to hold back the rising tide of authoritarianism around the globe,” said Donahue, D-Lackawanna.
“Our military partners from allied nations like Lithuania deserve recognition for the supportive and mutually beneficial relationship that has reinforced our strengths in the air and on the battlefield. This change that my colleagues and I voted to make today would allow our state to better recognize the efforts and contributions of our strategic allies, especially those of Pennsylvania’s partners in Lithuania, and I was glad that we could get one step closer to being able to genuinely show our appreciation outside of a ‘thank you’.”
This is Donahue’s first bill to pass the House.
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