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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1460 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1460

   To grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the First 
 Special Service Force, in recognition of its superior service during 
                             World War II.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 1, 2011

   Mr. Baucus (for himself, Mr. Tester, and Mr. Burr) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                  Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the First 
 Special Service Force, in recognition of its superior service during 
                             World War II.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The First Special Service Force (in this Act referred 
        to as the ``Force'') was organized as a joint American-Canadian 
        unit activated in July 1942 at Fort Harrison near Helena, 
        Montana.
            (2) The Force was initially intended to target military and 
        industrial installations that were supporting the German war 
        effort, including important hydroelectric plants, which would 
        severely limit the production of strategic materials used by 
        the Axis powers.
            (3) From July 1942 through June 1943, volunteers of the 
        Force trained in hazardous, arctic conditions, in the mountains 
        of western Montana, and the waterways of Camp Bradford, 
        Virginia.
            (4) The combat echelon of the Force totaled 1,800 
        soldiers--half American, half Canadian. There were also 800 
        American members of the Service Battalion, which provided 
        important support for the combat troops.
            (5) A special bond developed between the Canadian and 
        American soldiers. They were not segregated by geography, 
        although it was commanded by an American colonel.
            (6) The Force was unique, as it was the only unit formed 
        during World War II consisting of troops from 2 different 
        countries.
            (7) In October 1943, the Force went to Italy, where it 
        fought in battles south of Cassino, including Monte La Difensa 
        and Monte Majo.
            (8) These mountain peaks were a critical anchor of the 
        German defense line, and on December 3, 1943, the Force's units 
        ascended to the top of La Difensa's precipitous face. Climbing 
        through the night, the battalion suffered heavy casualties and 
        overcame fierce resistance to overtake the German line.
            (9) After La Difensa, the Force continued to fight tough 
        battles at high altitudes, in rugged terrain, and in severe 
        weather. After battles on the strongly defended Italian peaks 
        of Sammucro, Vischiataro, and Remetanea, the Force's combat 
        units had been reduced from 1,800 to fewer than 500.
            (10) In 1944, the Force went to the Anzio Beachhead for 4 
        months, engaging in raids and aggressive patrols. On June 4, 
        1944, members of the Force were the first Allied troops to 
        liberate Rome.
            (11) After Rome, the Force moved to southern Italy, where 
        it prepared to assist in the liberation of France.
            (12) During the early morning of August 15, 1944, the Force 
        made silent landings on Les Iles D'Hyeres, small islands in the 
        Mediterranean Sea along the southern coast of France. They 
        faced a sustained and withering assault from the German 
        garrisons, as the Force progressed from the islands to the 
        Franco-Italian border.
            (13) After securing the Franco-Italian border, the United 
        States Army ordered the disbandment of the First Special 
        Service Force on December 5, 1944 in Nice, France.
            (14) In 251 days of combat, the Force suffered 2,314 
        casualties, or 134 percent of its combat strength. It captured 
        more than 30,000 prisoners, won 5 United States campaign stars, 
        and 8 Canadian battle honors. It never failed a mission.
            (15) The United States is forever indebted to the acts of 
        bravery and selflessness of these troops, risking their lives 
        in covert missions for the cause of freedom.
            (16) The unparalleled work of the Force along the seas and 
        skies of Europe were critical in repelling the Nazi advance and 
        liberating numerous French and Italian communities.
            (17) The bond between the American and Canadian service 
        members has endured over the decades, as they continue to meet 
        every year for reunions, alternating between Canada and the 
        United States.
            (18) The traditions and honors exhibited by the First 
        Special Service Force are carried forward with its lineage 
        embracing outstanding active units of 2 great democracies in 
        the Special Forces of the United States, the Canadian Airborne 
        Regiment, and the Canadian Special Operations Regiment.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

    (a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives 
and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate 
arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of 2 gold medals 
of appropriate design to the First Special Service Force, collectively, 
in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.
    (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 medals with suitable 
emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
    (c) Award to Smithsonian and First Special Service Force 
Association.--
            (1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medals in 
        honor of the First Special Service Force, under subsection 
        (a)--
                    (A) one gold medal shall be given to the 
                Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as 
                appropriate and made available for research; and
                    (B) one gold medal shall be given to the First 
                Special Service Force Association in Helena, Montana.
            (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
        that the Smithsonian Institution and the First Special Service 
        Force Association should make the gold medals received under 
        paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at 
        other appropriate locations associated with the First Special 
        Service Force, including Fort William Henry Harrison in Helena, 
        Montana.

SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

    The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold 
medals struck under section 2, at a price sufficient to cover the costs 
of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and 
overhead expenses.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

    Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes 
of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO USE FUNDS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

    (a) Authority To Use Funds.--There is authorized to be charged 
against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, an amount not to 
exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medals authorized under 
section 2.
    (b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate 
bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States 
Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
                                 <all>
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