"Renaming U.S. Route 20 as the National Medal of Honor Highway is an important step to recognize and memorialize the contribution of those who have earned the highest honor our armed forces have to offer," said a statement from Kaptur, who supported efforts in Ohio's legislature that designated it the "Ohio Medal of Honor Highway."

The legislation is supported by the Bend Heroes Foundation, Military Officers Association of America, American Legion, Legion of Valor, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States.

According to Veterans of Foreign Wars, the drive to rename U.S. Route 20 started with an Oregon Vietnam veteran named Dick Tobiason, who heads the Bend Heroes Foundation. In 2017, Oregon's governor and legislature designated their section of the road the "Oregon Medal of Honor Highway."

By the end of last year, all states along the route passed similar measures with encouragement from Tobiason and veterans groups in their states.

A statement from Tobiason said that having a transcontinental National Medal of Honor Highway would be "a permanent tribute to America's members of the Armed Forces who acted with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of their lives during combat with an enemy of the United States."

"Every state from Oregon to Massachusetts has dedicated Highway 20 to the recipients of the Medal of Honor, it is time for the federal government to do the same," added a statement from Military Officers Association of America president and CEO Brian T. Kelly. "It is only fitting that we honor all our nation's 'bravest of the brave' veterans on the longest highway in our nation."

In total, the legislation calls to move 33 airmen from Alaska, 126 from California, 119 from Colorado, 75 from Florida, 130 from Hawaii, 69 from Ohio and 26 from the Air National Guard's headquarters, according to the bill.

Congressional agreement on the Department of the Air Force's plan, Legislative Proposal 480, to move Air National Guard units with space missions into the active-duty Space Force -- which was first reported by Military.com in April -- was met with fierce condemnation by state governors and National Guard lobbyists.

The compromise NDAA would "occur without regard to section 104 of Title 32, United States Code, or section 18238 of Title 10, United States Code," both which say such a move would require approval from state governors.

Every governor in the country as well as five U.S. territories voiced opposition to the move throughout the year, and continued to rally against the compromise on Monday.

"Using the power of Congress to override the authority of governors, rather than directing the Department of Defense to work with governors in good faith, not only creates uncertain circumstances for the service members in affected states but also opens the door for future legislation overriding states' rights," a statement from the National Governors Association said.

"The decision undermines more than 100 years of precedent, as well as national security and military readiness," according to the statement released on Monday.