First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
- Committees
- Financial Services Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Feb 13, 2025
Bottom line
H.R. 1277 awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment for their Revolutionary War service, with the medal to be housed at the Rhode Island State Library and bronze duplicates available for sale.
What it actually does
This bill authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island Regiment for their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike the medal, which will then be given to the Rhode Island State Library for display and research. The bill also allows for the production and sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs.
Section 1
Short Title
This section establishes the official short title of the Act as the 'First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act'. This title allows for easy reference and identification of the legislation in legal and public discourse.
Section 2
Congressional Findings on the First Rhode Island Regiment
This section outlines the historical context and significance of the First Rhode Island Regiment. It details their formation, notably including men of African heritage and Indigenous descent, their heroic actions at the Battle of Rhode Island, their continued service, and their post-war struggles. These findings serve as the official congressional justification for awarding the Congressional Gold Medal.
Section 3
Award of Congressional Gold Medal and Display
This section authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a single gold medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively. It mandates the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike this medal. Following the award, the gold medal will be given to the Rhode Island State Library for permanent display and research, with a recommendation that it also be made available for display at other relevant historical locations.
Section 4
Sale of Bronze Duplicate Medals
This section permits the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal. The price for these duplicates must be set high enough to cover all associated costs, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, ensuring the program is self-sustaining.
Section 6
Funding and Revenue for Medals
This section authorizes the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund to cover the costs associated with striking both the gold medal and its bronze duplicates. It also stipulates that all proceeds generated from the sale of the duplicate bronze medals, as authorized in Section 4, shall be deposited back into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. This establishes a self-sustaining financial mechanism for the medal program.
This section classifies the medals struck under this Act as 'national medals' for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code, and as 'numismatic items' for purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code.
Section 5
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for bills authorizing the striking of medals. It ensures that the newly authorized medals are properly integrated into the existing legal and administrative framework governing U.S. coinage and medals, rather than being an attempt to obscure a controversial provision.
Case for: Ensures legal consistency and proper administrative handling by the U.S. Mint, preventing ambiguity regarding the medals' status, production, and management under existing federal law. This streamlines the process and avoids potential legal complications.
Case against: There is no discernible case against this provision, as it is a purely technical and administrative classification necessary for the proper execution of the Act.
Estimated impact: The impact is primarily administrative, ensuring that the U.S. Mint and other relevant federal agencies have clear legal guidelines for the production, sale, and management of these medals, consistent with existing federal statutes governing numismatic items.