JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Standing with former prisoners of war and veterans, Senator Ashley Moody announced new legislation to make Florida home to the only National POW/MIA museum in the country. Senator Moody’s National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act would designate the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum in Jacksonville as a National Landmark. U.S. Representative Aaron Bean, the House sponsor of the bill, joined Senator Moody today at Cecil Field for the announcement.
“Prisoners of wars and soldiers missing in action deserve our prayers, support and recognition of their immense sacrifice. There is no better place to honor their service than Florida, because of our long tradition of supporting veterans. That is why I am leading the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act in the Senate to ensure Florida is the leader in preserving the memory of those who endured captivity and those who never came home. This effort is about keeping our promise to remember their sacrifice, stand with their families, and ensure future generations never forget the cost of freedom,” said Senator Ashley Moody.
“Throughout our nation’s history, more than 223,000 American service members have been listed as POW/MIA. We owe it to those service members and their families to ensure that our nation never forgets. This memorial will give Americans a unique opportunity to honor the immense sacrifice made by our POWs and serve as a powerful reminder of the service members whose fates are still unknown. I want to thank Senator Moody for joining me in this critical effort and spearheading this legislation in the Senate,” said U.S. Representative Aaron Bean.
BACKGROUND:
- The National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville is located on the grounds of the former Naval Air Station Cecil Field, one of the Navy’s most historic Master Jet Bases. The foundation for the memorial and museum is a small existing memorial that was dedicated in 1973 and honors Jacksonville area aviators missing and captured from the Vietnam era through the first Gulf War.
- According to the Department of Defense, there are more than 142,000 service members who have been captured as prisoners of war, and more than 81,000 service members listed as missing in action from the outset of World War II.
- Senator Moody fights for America’s service members and veterans. Senator Moody was recently selected to serve on theSenate Committee on Armed Services.
- Last year, Senator Moody secured major funding for Florida’s military bases through her work on the National Defense Authorization Act, totaling over $851 million aimed to support shipbuilding, delivery of next-generation aircraft, and construction of Golden Dome missile defense.
- Since becoming Florida’s newest Senator, Moody has:
- Cosponsored the Military Spouse Hiring Act to address difficulties servicemembers’ families face when looking for work;
- Cosponsored the Major Richard Star Act, which seeks to fix unjust disability policies for retired combat veterans;
- Introduced Drone Espionage Act to crack down on spying through video surveillance of military installations;
- Supported the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, which would expand educational benefits for veterans;
- Supported the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, which would help ensure that only the most dedicated individuals can serve veterans;
- Held a town hall with VA Secretary Collins in Tampa to discuss issues facing veterans;
- Requested President Trump to send F-35As to Homestead Air Reserve Base;
- Recognized 200 years of U.S. Navy presence in Pensacola and discussed the critical importance of the Navy and Coast Guard’s presence in the Florida Panhandle; and more.
- As Florida’s Attorney General, Moody oversaw the Military and Veterans Assistance Program to assist servicemembers, veterans and their families who encounter scams or fraud. From 2019 and January 2025, when Senator Moody left the Attorney General’s office, MVAP recovered more than $3.7 million from over 2,300 complaints for affected military members and their families.
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