Sarah Keys Evans Congressional Gold Medal Act

This section formally designates the Act's official short title as the "Sarah Keys Evans Congressional Gold Medal Act." This naming convention provides a clear and concise reference for the legislation, making it easily identifiable in public discourse, legislative records, and legal citations. It ensures that the bill's primary purpose—to honor Sarah Keys Evans—is immediately evident from its title, facilitating public understanding and legislative tracking.

This section details the historical context and significance of Sarah Keys Evans's actions. It outlines her birth, military service, her refusal to give up her seat on an interstate bus in 1952, her subsequent arrest, and the landmark Sarah Keys v. Carolina Coach Company case before the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), which ultimately outlawed segregation on interstate buses. These findings establish the justification for awarding the Congressional Gold Medal by formally recognizing her contributions to civil rights.

This section serves as the core operative directive of the bill, formally authorizing the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make the necessary arrangements for the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Mrs. Sarah Keys Evans. This act of presentation is intended to be a solemn recognition, on behalf of the entire Congress, of her profound achievements and enduring legacy as a civil rights pioneer. It directly fulfills the bill's primary objective to honor her contributions.

This section mandates that the Secretary of the Treasury undertake the responsibility for designing and striking the Congressional Gold Medal. The Secretary is granted the authority to determine the appropriate emblems, devices, and inscriptions that will adorn the medal, ensuring that its artistic representation accurately reflects the significance of Sarah Keys Evans's contributions. This provision ensures the creation of a physically tangible and symbolically rich award.

This section grants the Secretary of the Treasury the discretionary authority to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal. These duplicates are intended for public purchase, allowing individuals and institutions to acquire a commemorative item honoring Sarah Keys Evans. The provision specifies that the sale price must be set at a level sufficient to recover all associated costs, including labor, materials, dies, machinery usage, and overhead expenses, ensuring no net cost to the taxpayer for the duplicates.

This section provides crucial legal classification for the medals created under this Act. It explicitly states that these medals are to be considered "national medals" as defined within chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code. Furthermore, it designates them as "numismatic items" for the purposes of section 5134 of the same title. This legal categorization is essential for proper administrative handling, accounting, and regulatory compliance by the Department of the Treasury, ensuring the medals are managed according to established federal guidelines for such artifacts.