I'm writing to you today to share the good news that a decades-long quest to see that an Albany native and WWI hero receives his due recognition is now in its home stretch. This month, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (H.R. 3979), which includes language that allows the President to award Sgt. Henry Johnson the Medal of Honor for his acts of incredible bravery during World War I.

if you're from Albany, you know Sgt. Johnson's story. The superhuman acts of valor demonstrated in defense of our nation and his fellow soldiers is a great source of pride for our community, and for almost a century these acts have gone unrecognized. We have jumped a very large hurdle toward appropriately honoring this American hero.

I have followed Henry's story since long before becoming a Member of Congress and have worked hard to make sure his story is heard by others. I thank the many individuals who never gave up on our tireless efforts to accomplish this goal, including Sgt. Johnson's relatives, Senator Schumer, and my predecessor, Mike McNulty. This was a decades-long team effort across the board, and I could not be happier to see our efforts pay off.

This legislation is now expected to be signed into law by the President. After that, he will have the authority to officially award Sgt. Johnson the Medal of Honor. Unless a waiver is passed by Congress, service members who exhibit extreme valor in combat can only be awarded the Medal of Honor if their acts occurred in the previous five years.

Please join me in pausing to honor and remember Sgt. Johnson and his fellow soldiers who have made our nation secure and our communities proud through acts of bravery both seen and unseen.

Thank you for reading. If I can ever be of help, please don't hesitate to call or write. My door is always open.