Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Congressional Gold Medal Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
- Committees
- Committee on House Administration (primary)
- Last action
- Jun 25, 2026
Bottom line
The bill collectively honors World War II Pacific theater prisoners of war and defenders of places like Bataan and Corregidor with a Congressional Gold Medal.
What it actually does
This bill authorizes the collective award of a Congressional Gold Medal to individuals who fought for or with the United States against Imperial Japan in the Pacific theater and became prisoners of war between December 8, 1941, and August 15, 1945. It also directs the Smithsonian Institution to display the medal and allows for the striking and sale of bronze duplicates. The bill includes specific findings recognizing the historical context and sacrifices of these individuals.
Section 4(a)
Authorization of Congressional Gold Medal
This provision directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make arrangements for the collective award of a gold medal. This medal is intended for individuals who fought for or with the United States to defend Bataan, Corregidor, and other locations in the Pacific theater, and subsequently became prisoners of war during World War II, recognizing their personal sacrifice and service.
Section 3
Definitions of Honored Individuals and Scope
This section precisely defines who qualifies for the award, specifying 'individuals who fought for or with the United States' as those in the Pacific theater from December 8, 1941, to August 15, 1945, who served honorably in or with the U.S. Armed Forces in defensive battles, or became Imperial Japanese POWs, including civilians granted veteran status. It also clarifies the 'Pacific theater' and 'resistance or battle' locations, while explicitly excluding members of the Pacific Fleet or the Hawaiian Department.
Sections 4(c) and 5
Public Display and Commemorative Sales
Following the award, the gold medal will be given to the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with a congressional recommendation for display at other relevant historical locations. Additionally, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal to the public at a price sufficient to cover the production costs.
This subsection explicitly states that the term 'individuals who fought for or with the United States' for the purpose of this award 'does not include a member of the Pacific Fleet or the Hawaiian Department.'
Section 3(1)(B)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to precisely define the scope of eligibility for an award, ensuring it targets a specific group of veterans based on their unique combat and POW experiences. It is not intended to be evasive.
Case for: Supporters would argue this exclusion ensures the medal specifically honors those involved in the defensive land battles and subsequent prisoner-of-war experiences in the Pacific theater, distinguishing them from broader naval or Hawaiian-based personnel who may have had different combat roles or were not POWs in the same context as the Bataan and Corregidor defenders.
Case against: Critics might contend that this creates an arbitrary distinction, potentially overlooking individuals who also served valiantly in the Pacific theater but whose units fall under these excluded categories, even if they faced similar dangers or became prisoners of war.
Estimated impact: This provision narrows the pool of eligible recipients for the collective Congressional Gold Medal, focusing the recognition on a more specific subset of World War II Pacific theater veterans.