I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2233 

To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Aretha Franklin 

in recognition of her contributions of outstanding artistic and historical 

significance to culture in the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 26, 2021 

Mrs. LAWRENCE (for herself and Mr. COHEN) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to 

Aretha Franklin in recognition of her contributions of 

outstanding artistic and historical significance to culture 

in the United States. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Aretha Franklin Con5 gressional Gold Medal Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) Aretha Franklin was born on March 25, 

2 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, and died peacefully at 

3 her home in Detroit, Michigan, surrounded by family 

4 and loved ones on August 16, 2018. 

5 (2) Aretha Franklin’s musical talents have in6 fluenced generations of musicians and political lead7 ers, creating a legacy that spans an incredible 6 dec8 ades. 

9 (3) Aretha Franklin, dubbed the ‘‘Queen of 

10 Soul’’, was the first woman ever inducted into the 

11 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was a 2005 recipient 

12 of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was a 

13 1999 recipient of the National Medal of Arts and 

14 Humanities Award, among other accolades. 

15 (4) Aretha Franklin’s music served as a 1960s 

16 call to action that inspired thousands to join civil 

17 rights movements and still resonates across these 

18 movements today. 

19 (5) Aretha Franklin’s contributions go beyond 

20 music and arts. 

21 (6) Aretha Franklin was also a philanthropist 

22 who supported causes that advanced civil rights, 

23 human health, and gender equality. 


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1 (7) Aretha Franklin’s talents instilled hope, up2 lifted generations, and changed the lives of millions 

3 of people across the globe. 

4 (8) The City of Detroit shaped Aretha’s life and 

5 music, as her father and church introduced her to 

6 local Motown artists. 

7 (9) In return, Aretha made countless contribu8 tions to the City of Detroit, and few people have 

9 played a greater role in shaping the Nation’s cul10 turally and socially relevant discography than Aretha 

11 Franklin. 

12 SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 

13 (a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of 

14 the House of Representatives and the President pro tem15 pore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements 

16 for the posthumous presentation, on behalf of Congress, 

17 of a gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration 

18 of Aretha Franklin, in recognition of her outstanding ar19 tistic and historical significance to the culture of the 

20 United States. 

21 (b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the 

22 presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary 

23 of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 

24 ‘‘Secretary’’) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:58 May 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2233.IH H2233

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1 blems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the 

2 Secretary. 

3 (c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 

5 gold medal referred to in subsection (a), the gold 

6 medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, 

7 where it will be displayed as appropriate and made 

8 available for research. 

9 (2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 

10 Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should 

11 make the gold medal received under this Act avail12 able for display elsewhere, particularly at other loca13 tions and events associated with Aretha Franklin. 

14 SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 

15 The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 

16 bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 

17 under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at 

18 a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, 

19 materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 

20 SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 

21 (a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck pursu22 ant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 

23 51 of title 31, United States Code. 


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1 (b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 

2 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck 

3 under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. 

Æ 


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