Plain English summary not yet available
The full original text is available below. Check back soon as we process this bill.
II
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, Hous-
ing, 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 Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gold Star Families
4
Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021’’.
5
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
6
Congress finds the following:
7
VerDate Sep 11 2014
04:58 Jun 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S1882.IS
S1882
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2
•S 1882 IS
(1) The fortitude of Gold Star Families in the
1
midst of tragedy strengthen the resolve of the
2
United States.
3
(2) Since World War I, military families have
4
used Gold Stars to memorialize their family mem-
5
ber’s sacrifice on behalf of the country, represent the
6
devotion and pride of the family in this sacrifice,
7
and glorify rather than grieve their military service.
8
(3) Gold Stars were first used by military fami-
9
lies during World War I.
10
(4) When a family member passed away during
11
their service, families would place a Gold Star on
12
their Service Flag to represent the sacrifice the fam-
13
ily had paid in the cause of freedom.
14
(5) On May 28, 1918, President Wilson ap-
15
proved a suggestion made by the Women’s Com-
16
mittee of the Council of National Defenses that, in-
17
stead of wearing conventional mourning garb for rel-
18
atives who passed away during their military service,
19
women would wear a black band with a gilt star on
20
their left arm to signify each member of the family
21
who gave their life for the United States.
22
(6)
In
1928,
25
mothers
of
fallen
23
servicemembers worked together to establish a na-
24
tional organization to support those who had lost
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
04:58 Jun 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S1882.IS
S1882
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3
•S 1882 IS
their children during the war, which was known as
1
the American Gold Star Mothers Inc. and officially
2
incorporated in January 1929.
3
(7) Since September 1936, the United States
4
has observed various recognized dates to support
5
Gold Star Families and honor the legacy of fallen
6
heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
7
(8) In 1945, Eleanor Roosevelt helped to estab-
8
lish Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., a national or-
9
ganization to support the families left behind by the
10
fallen members and veterans of the Armed Forces
11
who died on active duty or as a result of a service-
12
connected disability.
13
(9) In August 1947, Congress authorized the
14
issuance of gold star lapel pins to families who lost
15
a loved one in combat.
16
(10) The extraordinary contribution of Gold
17
Star Families is beyond measure, not merely for
18
their loss, but the comfort they selflessly provide
19
others and their model of service and sacrifice.
20
(11) Through their service, Gold Star Families
21
keep alive the spirit of patriotism and love of coun-
22
try and promote peace and good will for the United
23
States and all other countries.
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
04:58 Jun 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S1882.IS
S1882
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4
•S 1882 IS
(12) Gold Star Families continue to perpetuate
1
the memory of those who fought and died on behalf
2
of the United States.
3
(13) Gold Star Families embody the purpose of
4
the Congressional Gold Medal of honoring distin-
5
guished contributions, recognizing virtues of patriot-
6
ism, and remembering momentous occasions in his-
7
tory.
8
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
9
In this Act, the term ‘‘Gold Star Family’’ includes
10
any individual described in section 3.2 of Department of
11
Defense Instruction 1348.36.
12
SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
13
(a) AWARD AUTHORIZED.—The President pro tem-
14
pore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Rep-
15
resentatives shall make appropriate arrangements for the
16
award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold medal of
17
appropriate design to all Gold Star Families in recognition
18
of their dedication, contributions, and sacrifice to the
19
United States.
20
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purposes of the
21
award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary shall
22
strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and
23
inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
24
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.—
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
04:58 Jun 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S1882.IS
S1882
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5
•S 1882 IS
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the
1
gold medal in honor of Gold Star Families, the gold
2
medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution,
3
where it will be available for display as appropriate
4
and made available for research.
5
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of
6
Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should
7
make the gold medal received under paragraph (1)
8
available for display elsewhere, particularly at other
9
appropriate locations associated with Gold Star
10
Families.
11
(d) DUPLICATE MEDALS.—
12
(1) IN GENERAL.—Under regulations that the
13
Secretary may promulgate, the Secretary may strike
14
and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal
15
struck under this Act, at a price sufficient to cover
16
the costs of the medals, including labor, materials,
17
dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
18
(2) PROCEEDS
OF
SALES.—The amounts re-
19
ceived from the sale of duplicate medals under para-
20
graph (1) shall be deposited in the United States
21
Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
22
VerDate Sep 11 2014
04:58 Jun 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S1882.IS
S1882
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
6
•S 1882 IS
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
1
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—Medals struck under this
2
Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title
3
31, United States Code.
4
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section
5
5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck
6
under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
7
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
04:58 Jun 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\S1882.IS
S1882
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS