[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 892 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 892
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the women in the
United States who joined the workforce during World War II, providing
the aircraft, vehicles, weaponry, ammunition, and other materials to
win the war, that were referred to as ``Rosie the Riveter'', in
recognition of their contributions to the United States and the
inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 27, 2019
Mr. Casey (for himself, Ms. Collins, and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the women in the
United States who joined the workforce during World War II, providing
the aircraft, vehicles, weaponry, ammunition, and other materials to
win the war, that were referred to as ``Rosie the Riveter'', in
recognition of their contributions to the United States and the
inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold
Medal Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Over 70 years ago there was a call to action, a demand
for workers to fill the vacancies left by the men who went to
fight in the war.
(2) More than 6,000,000 women answered the call then,
entering the workforce during World War II and providing the
equipment, weaponry, and ammunition to achieve final victory
and end the war.
(3) These women left their homes to work or volunteer full-
time in factories, farms, shipyards, airplane factories, banks,
and other institutions in support of the military overseas.
(4) They worked with the United Service Organizations and
the American Red Cross, drove trucks, riveted airplane parts,
collected critical materials, rolled bandages, and served on
rationing boards.
(5) Our ``Rosie the Riveter'', the women who worked and
sacrificed to strengthen this country during World War II, are
among the greatest living heroines in the United States.
(6) These women persevered, despite often facing harassment
from their male colleagues and disapproval from their male
family members, and all the while continued to maintain their
``other jobs'' as caretakers of children and their households.
(7) Minority women also overcame long-held policies of
discrimination and made significant contributions to the war
effort.
(8) Because of the ``Rosies'', Federal, State, and local
agencies coordinated with business owners to develop child care
programs and other supports for working mothers.
(9) The example that these women set during World War II
continues to inspire us and blaze a path for the working women
of today.
(10) Specifically, the images of ``Rosie the Riveter'' and
the phrase ``We Can Do It'' continue to symbolize the
empowerment of women today, representing patriotic women who
want to serve and strengthen their country and to inspire young
girls to become ``21st Century Rosies'' by aspiring to and
attaining positions of leadership in all walks of life in the
United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Rosie the Riveter.--The term ``Rosie the Riveter'' includes any
female individual who held employment or volunteered in support of the
war efforts during World War II.
(b) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Treasury.
SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The President pro tempore of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make appropriate
arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold
medal of appropriate design to Rosie the Riveter, collectively, in
recognition of their contributions to the United States and the
inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the award referred to
in subsection (a), the Secretary shall strike the gold medal with
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the
Secretary.
(c) National Museum of American History.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in
honor of Rosie the Riveter, the gold medal shall be given to
the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian
Institution, where it will be available for display as
appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the National Museum of American History should make the gold
medal received under paragraph (1) available for display
elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations
associated with Rosie the Riveter.
SEC. 5. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
(a) In General.--Under such regulations as the Secretary may
prescribe, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of
the gold medal struck under section 4, at a price sufficient to cover
the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of
machinery, and overhead expenses.
(b) Proceeds.--Amounts received from the sale of the duplicates
under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the United States Mint
Public Enterprise Fund established under section 5136 of title 31,
United States Code.
SEC. 6. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--Medals struck under this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of title 31,
United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
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