American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American Fighter Aces Congressional 
Gold Medal Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) An American Fighter Ace is a fighter pilot who has 
        served honorably in a United States military service and who 
        has destroyed 5 or more confirmed enemy aircraft in aerial 
        combat during a war or conflict in which American armed forces 
        have participated.
            (2) Beginning with World War I, and the first use of 
        airplanes in warfare, military services have maintained 
        official records of individual aerial victory credits during 
        every major conflict. Of more than 60,000 United States 
        military fighter pilots that have taken to the air, less than 
        1,500 have become Fighter Aces.
            (3) Americans became Fighter Aces in the Spanish Civil War, 
        Sino-Japanese War, Russian Civil War, Arab-Israeli War, and 
        others. Additionally, American military groups' recruited 
        United States military pilots to form the American Volunteer 
        Group, Eagle Squadron, and others that produced American-born 
        Fighter Aces fighting against axis powers prior to Pearl 
        Harbor.
            (4) The concept of a Fighter Ace is that they fought for 
        freedom and democracy across the globe, flying in the face of 
        the enemy to defend freedom throughout the history of aerial 
        combat. American-born citizens became Fighter Aces flying under 
        the flag of United States allied countries and became some of 
        the highest scoring Fighter Aces of their respective wars.
            (5) American Fighter Aces hail from every State in the 
        Union, representing numerous ethnic, religious, and cultural 
        backgrounds.
            (6) Fighter Aces possess unique skills that have made them 
        successful in aerial combat. These include courage, judgment, 
        keen marksmanship, concentration, drive, persistence, and 
        split-second thinking that makes an Ace a war fighter with 
        unique and valuable flight driven skills.
            (7) The Aces' training, bravery, skills, sacrifice, 
        attention to duty, and innovative spirit illustrate the most 
        celebrated traits of the United States military, including 
        service to country and the protection of freedom and democracy.
            (8) American Fighter Aces have led distinguished careers in 
        the military, education, private enterprise, and politics. Many 
        have held the rank of General or Admiral and played leadership 
        roles in multiple war efforts from WWI to Vietnam through many 
        decades. In some cases they became the highest ranking officers 
        for following wars.
            (9) The extraordinary heroism of the American Fighter Ace 
        boosted American morale at home and encouraged many men and 
        women to enlist to fight for America and democracy across the 
        globe.
            (10) Fighter Aces were among America's most-prized military 
        fighters during wars. When they rotated back to the United 
        States after combat tours, they trained cadets in fighter pilot 
        tactics that they had learned over enemy skies. The teaching of 
        combat dogfighting to young aviators strengthened our fighter 
        pilots to become more successful in the skies. The net effect 
        of this was to shorten wars and save the lives of young 
        Americans.
            (11) Following military service, many Fighter Aces became 
        test pilots due to their superior flying skills and quick 
        thinking abilities.
            (12) The American Fighter Aces are one of the most 
        decorated military groups in American history. Twenty-two 
        Fighter Aces have achieved the rank of Admiral in the Navy. 
        Seventy-nine Fighter Aces have achieved the rank of General in 
        the Army, Marines, and Air Force. Nineteen Medals of Honor have 
        been awarded to individual Fighter Aces.

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 the 
Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to the American Fighter 
Aces, collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and 
defense of our country's freedom, which has spanned the history of 
aviation warfare.
    (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to 
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (in this Act referred 
to as the ``Secretary'') shall strike the gold medal with suitable 
emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
    (c) Award of Medal.--Following the award of the gold medal in honor 
of the American Fighter Aces under subsection (a), the gold medal shall 
be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available 
for display or temporary loan to be displayed elsewhere, particularly 
at appropriate locations associated with the American Fighter Aces, and 
that preference should be given to locations affiliated with the 
Smithsonian Institution.

SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

    The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold 
medal struck pursuant to section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the 
costs of the medal, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 
and overhead expenses, and amounts received from the sale of such 
duplicates shall be deposited in the United States Mint Public 
Enterprise Fund.

SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.

    (a) National Medals.--The medals struck under 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.

            Passed the Senate March 26, 2014.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
113th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1827

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

   To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces, 
   collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and 
  defense of our country's freedom throughout the history of aviation 
                                warfare.

Summary: American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act - Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to the American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and defense of the nation's freedom. Requires the medal to be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available for display or temporary loan to be displayed elsewhere, particularly at locations associated with the American Fighter Aces.