II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1715 

To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to all Gold Star Families 

in recognition of their sacrifice and service to the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 4, 2019 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. MORAN, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. MENENDEZ, 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Mr. KAINE) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

Urban Affairs 

A BILL 

To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to all 

Gold Star Families in recognition of their sacrifice and 

service to 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 ‘‘Gold Star Families 

5 Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) The fortitude of Gold Star Families in the 

2 midst of tragedy strengthen the resolve of the 

3 United States. 

4 (2) Since World War I, military families have 

5 used Gold Stars to memorialize their family mem6 ber’s sacrifice on behalf of the country, represent the 

7 devotion and pride of the family in this sacrifice, 

8 and glorify rather than grieve their military service. 

9 (3) Gold Stars were first used by military fami10 lies during World War I. 

11 (4) When a family member passed away during 

12 their service, families would place a Gold Star on 

13 their Service Flag to represent the sacrifice the fam14 ily had paid in the cause of freedom. 

15 (5) On May 28, 1918, President Wilson ap16 proved a suggestion made by the Women’s Com17 mittee of the Council of National Defenses that, in18 stead of wearing conventional mourning garb for rel19 atives who passed away during their military service, 

20 women would wear a black band with a gilt star on 

21 their left arm to signify each member of the family 

22 who gave their life for the United States. 

23 (6) In 1928, 25 mothers of fallen 

24 servicemembers worked together to establish a na25 tional organization to support those who had lost 


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1 their children during the war, which was known as 

2 the American Gold Star Mothers Inc. and officially 

3 incorporated in January 1929. 

4 (7) Since September 1936, the United States 

5 has observed various recognized dates to support 

6 Gold Star Families and honor the legacy of fallen 

7 heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice. 

8 (8) In 1945, Eleanor Roosevelt helped to estab9 lish Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., a national or10 ganization to support the families left behind by the 

11 fallen members and veterans of the Armed Forces 

12 who died on active duty or as a result of a service13 connected disability. 

14 (9) In August 1947, Congress authorized the 

15 issuance of gold star lapel pins to families who lost 

16 a loved one in combat. 

17 (10) The extraordinary contribution of Gold 

18 Star Families is beyond measure, not merely for 

19 their loss, but the comfort they selflessly provide 

20 others and their model of service and sacrifice. 

21 (11) Through their service, Gold Star Families 

22 keep alive the spirit of patriotism and love of coun23 try and promote peace and good will for the United 

24 States and all other countries. 


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1 (12) Gold Star Families continue to perpetuate 

2 the memory of those who fought and died on behalf 

3 of the United States. 

4 (13) Gold Star Families embody the purpose of 

5 the Congressional Gold Medal of honoring distin6 guished contributions, recognizing virtues of patriot7 ism, and remembering momentous occasions in his8 tory. 

9 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

10 In this Act, the term ‘‘Gold Star Family’’ includes 

11 any individual described in section 3.2 of Department of 

12 Defense Instruction 1348.36. 

13 SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 

14 (a) AWARD AUTHORIZED.—The President pro tem15 pore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Rep16 resentatives shall make appropriate arrangements for the 

17 award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold medal of 

18 appropriate design to all Gold Star Families in recognition 

19 of their dedication, contributions, and sacrifice to the 

20 United States. 

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

22 award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

23 strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and 

24 inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary. 

25 (c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 


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

2 gold medal in honor of Gold Star Families, the gold 

3 medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, 

4 where it will be available for display as appropriate 

5 and made available for research. 

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

7 Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should 

8 make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) 

9 available for display elsewhere, particularly at other 

10 appropriate locations associated with Gold Star 

11 Families. 

12 (d) DUPLICATE MEDALS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Under regulations that the 

14 Secretary may promulgate, the Secretary may strike 

15 and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal 

16 struck under this Act, at a price sufficient to cover 

17 the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, 

18 dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 

19 (2) PROCEEDS OF SALES.—The amounts re20 ceived from the sale of duplicate medals under para21 graph (1) shall be deposited in the United States 

22 Mint Public Enterprise Fund. 


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1 SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 

2 (a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—Medals struck under this 

3 Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 

4 31, United States Code. 

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

6 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck 

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

Æ 


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