Remove the Stain Act

Bill Summary: Remove the Stain Act (S. 1915)

Overview

The Remove the Stain Act is a legislative proposal designed to rescind Medals of Honor awarded to soldiers of the U.S. 7th Cavalry for their participation in the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890. The bill asserts that awarding the nation's highest military honor for the killing of unarmed Native American men, women, and children diminishes the integrity of the Medal of Honor and dishonors the legacy of those who earned the award through genuine gallantry.

Purpose and Intent

The primary intent of the bill is to provide a formal renunciation of the decorations granted following the events at Wounded Knee Creek. The bill's "Findings" section establishes the historical context, noting that:
* The engagement resulted in the deaths of approximately 350–375 Lakota people.
* A significant portion of the casualties were unarmed women and children.
* Contemporaneous reports from military leadership (Major General Nelson A. Miles) described the event as a "brutal, cold-blooded massacre" and noted that many U.S. casualties were caused by friendly fire due to poor tactical placement.

Key Provisions

The bill mandates the following actions:

• Automatic Rescission: All Medals of Honor awarded for acts occurring at Wounded Knee Creek on December 29, 1890, are officially rescinded.
• Removal from Official Rolls: The Secretary of the relevant military department must remove the names of these individuals from the Medal of Honor Rolls for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
• No Physical Return Required: The bill specifies that individuals (or their descendants) are not required to physically return the medals to the Federal Government.
• Protection of Benefits: The Act explicitly states that the rescission of the medal shall not be used as a basis to deny any individual any other benefits provided by the Federal Government.

Affected Parties

• The U.S. Department of Defense: Specifically the Secretaries of the military branches responsible for maintaining the Medal of Honor Rolls.
• Recipients and Descendants: The 20 individuals who received the medal for the Wounded Knee event and their heirs.
• Native American Tribes: Specifically the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Great Sioux Nation, who have historically petitioned for this action.

Procedural Status

• Introduced: May 22, 2025
• Current Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.