WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, joined the Chairman of the subcommittee, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), in asking the new Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to lower the precedent of the Distinguished Warfare Medal.

A bipartisan coalition of 49 members of the House of Representatives signed a letter to Secretary Hagel requesting the change.

“I appreciate that the Distinguished Warfare Medal was established to honor the noteworthy efforts in the service of combat operations by our brave men and women in uniform,” said Davis. “However, we lessen the direct-combat recognitions of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star by giving the DWM higher precedence. Secretary Hagel should take a hard look at this and make an adjustment in precedence.”

A copy of the letter can be seen here.