the history channel

[hotwine]

Small problem or two with your "facts", there, Z ol' bean. First, the M1917 was the water-cooled .30 cal. Browning machine gun, which was the Army's battalion-level automatic weapon until the mid-1950's. Second, the M1903 was indeed the Army's standard-issue infantry rifle from 1903 to 1936, when the M1 entered service (although there were still some 03's in service during WWII). Source for those statements: the Army's Website for historical information on their small arms, http://www-acala1.ria.army.mil/LC/cs/csi/sahist.htm.
Third, the correct name of the highest award for gallantry in action is the Medal of Honor, awarded by the President upon recommendation by a service secretary. Congress has nothing to do with it.