[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9419 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9419
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Peter McGuire in recognition of
his contributions to the American Labor Movement.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 27, 2024
Mr. Norcross (for himself, Ms. Adams, Ms. Wild, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Davis
of North Carolina, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Lynch, Mrs. Trahan,
Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Budzinski, and Mr. Goldman of New York)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House
Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Peter McGuire in recognition of
his contributions to the American Labor Movement.
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 ``Peter McGuire Congressional Gold
Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds following:
(1) Peter McGuire's advocacy for the American Labor
Movement led to great gains for American workers and their
ability to organize and collectively bargain, especially in
wages, worker solidarity, and the movement for the 8-hour
workday.
(2) Peter McGuire is known as the ``Father of Labor Day and
of May Day'' for his contributions to American workers.
(3) Mr. McGuire is recognized for building the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America into a
powerful force advocating for American workers, and one of the
most powerful labor organizations in the world.
(4) Within 2 years, Mr. McGuire's St. Louis carpenters
achieved such impressive success and wage gains that it
attracted the attention of carpenters across the United States.
(5) In 1881, Mr. McGuire called for a national meeting of
carpenters' unions in Chicago which resulted in the formation
of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America,
and was elected the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America's Chief Administrative Officer.
(6) In 1881, Mr. McGuire wrote the convention call for the
national conference of labor unions that established the
Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, which, in
1886, reorganized into the American Federation of Labor.
(7) Mr. McGuire was elected the first Secretary of the
American Federation of Labor.
(8) Mr. McGuire advocated admirably for an 8-hour workday,
and his action resulted in meaningful gains for the 8-hour
workday movement. Mr. McGuire led impactful strikes in 1886 and
1890, which put the 8-hour workday on the minds of the American
public. The latter strike resulted in especially impressive
gains for workers, and one of the most successful strikes of
the 19th century: over 23,000 carpenters in 36 cities gained
the 8-hour workday, and 32,000 others gained the nine-hour
workday.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress,
of a single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of Peter McGuire
in recognition of his contributions to the American Labor Movement.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred
to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in
this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with suitable
emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary,
in consultation with the Secretary of Labor.
(c) National Museum of American History.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in
honor of Peter McGuire, the gold medal shall be given to the
Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History,
where it will be available for display as appropriate and
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 awarded pursuant to this Act available for display
elsewhere, particularly at appropriate locations associated
with the American Labor Movement or the Gilded Age.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medal.--Medals struck pursuant to this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States
Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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