[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1882 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1882
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to all Gold Star
Families in recognition of their sacrifice and service to the United
States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 27, 2021
Mr. Blumenthal (for himself and Mr. Daines) 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 all Gold Star
Families in recognition of their sacrifice and service to the United
States.
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 ``Gold Star Families Congressional
Gold Medal Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The fortitude of Gold Star Families in the midst of
tragedy strengthen the resolve of the United States.
(2) Since World War I, military families have used Gold
Stars to memorialize their family member's sacrifice on behalf
of the country, represent the devotion and pride of the family
in this sacrifice, and glorify rather than grieve their
military service.
(3) Gold Stars were first used by military families during
World War I.
(4) When a family member passed away during their service,
families would place a Gold Star on their Service Flag to
represent the sacrifice the family had paid in the cause of
freedom.
(5) On May 28, 1918, President Wilson approved a suggestion
made by the Women's Committee of the Council of National
Defenses that, instead of wearing conventional mourning garb
for relatives who passed away during their military service,
women would wear a black band with a gilt star on their left
arm to signify each member of the family who gave their life
for the United States.
(6) In 1928, 25 mothers of fallen servicemembers worked
together to establish a national organization to support those
who had lost their children during the war, which was known as
the American Gold Star Mothers Inc. and officially incorporated
in January 1929.
(7) Since September 1936, the United States has observed
various recognized dates to support Gold Star Families and
honor the legacy of fallen heroes who have made the ultimate
sacrifice.
(8) In 1945, Eleanor Roosevelt helped to establish Gold
Star Wives of America, Inc., a national organization to support
the families left behind by the fallen members and veterans of
the Armed Forces who died on active duty or as a result of a
service-connected disability.
(9) In August 1947, Congress authorized the issuance of
gold star lapel pins to families who lost a loved one in
combat.
(10) The extraordinary contribution of Gold Star Families
is beyond measure, not merely for their loss, but the comfort
they selflessly provide others and their model of service and
sacrifice.
(11) Through their service, Gold Star Families keep alive
the spirit of patriotism and love of country and promote peace
and good will for the United States and all other countries.
(12) Gold Star Families continue to perpetuate the memory
of those who fought and died on behalf of the United States.
(13) Gold Star Families embody the purpose of the
Congressional Gold Medal of honoring distinguished
contributions, recognizing virtues of patriotism, and
remembering momentous occasions in history.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the term ``Gold Star Family'' includes any individual
described in section 3.2 of Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36.
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 all Gold Star Families in recognition of
their dedication, contributions, and sacrifice to the United States.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes 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) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in
honor of Gold Star Families, the gold medal shall be given to
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 Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received
under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere,
particularly at other appropriate locations associated with
Gold Star Families.
(d) Duplicate Medals.--
(1) In general.--Under regulations that the Secretary may
promulgate, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in
bronze of the gold medal struck under this Act, at a price
sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor,
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
(2) Proceeds of sales.--The amounts received from the sale
of duplicate medals under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in
the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
SEC. 5. 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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