I 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7088 

To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Defenders of Ukraine, collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the defense of the free 

democracy of Ukraine against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 15, 2022 

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota (for himself, Mrs. SPARTZ, Mr. FITZPATRICK, 

Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma, Mrs. MURPHY of Florida, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. 

BALDERSON, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. LATURNER, Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS, Mr. OWENS, Mr. PHILLIPS, Mr. MCKINLEY, Ms. SALAZAR, 

and Mr. MANN) 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 award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Defenders 

of Ukraine, collectively, in recognition of their crucial 

role in the defense of the free democracy of Ukraine 

against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression. 

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 ‘‘Defenders of Ukraine 

5 Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 The Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) In 1991, Ukraine declared independence 

4 from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, key to 

5 the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Soon after, 

6 Ukraine disposed of the world’s third largest nuclear 

7 arsenal. 

8 (2) In April 2014, the Russian Federation an9 nexed Crimea and invaded the Donetsk and 

10 Luhansk regions of Eastern Ukraine; this initial 

11 conflict claimed approximately 14,000 lives. 

12 (3) On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federa13 tion expanded its war against Ukraine, launching a 

14 further unprovoked full-scale invasion of the peace15 ful, independent country. 

16 (4) In response to this unprovoked invasion, 

17 hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have heroically 

18 volunteered to defend their country, joining its 

19 Armed Forces and taking up arms against Russian 

20 Armed Forces. 

21 (5) Russia’s unjustifiable invasion has claimed 

22 thousands of innocent lives, including children and 

23 the elderly, through the targeting of civilians and the 

24 destruction of civilian infrastructure including apart25 ment buildings, schools, kindergartens, hotels, and 

26 hospitals. 


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1 (6) Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to 

2 leave their homes and country behind. 

3 (7) Ukrainian civilians, the Armed Forces of 

4 Ukraine, the democratic government, and its elected 

5 and civilian officials have been effective in disrupting 

6 the Russian invasion, blocking the enemy using a 

7 wide range of methods including direct combat, dis8 mantling nearby road signs, using cranes to move 

9 cement blocks in the way, producing improvised pet10 rol bombs, and setting up sandbags to block road11 ways. 

12 (8) Ukrainian civilians, both armed and un13 armed, have shown immense bravery in their heroic 

14 attempts to disrupt the Russian war efforts, with lit15 tle regard for their own safety. 

16 (9) The courage and strength of Ukrainian citi17 zens resisting their autocratic invaders has strength18 ened the resolve of the United States and their al19 lies, increasing support for the provision of military 

20 and humanitarian aid. 

21 SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 

22 (a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of 

23 the House of Representatives and the President pro tem24 pore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements 

25 for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold 


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1 medal of appropriate design to the Defenders of Ukraine, 

2 collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the de3 fense of the free democracy of Ukraine against Russia’s 

4 unprovoked war of aggression. 

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

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

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

8 ‘‘Secretary’’) shall strike a gold medal with suitable em9 blems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the 

10 Secretary. 

11 (c) DISPOSITION OF MEDAL.—Following the presen12 tation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 

13 (1) give the gold medal to the Government of 

14 Ukraine; or 

15 (2) if the Secretary determines that Ukraine 

16 does not have a democratically elected government— 

17 (A) transfer the gold medal temporarily to 

18 the Smithsonian Institution for display; and 

19 (B) transfer the gold medal to Ukraine 

20 after determining that Ukraine does have a 

21 democratically elected government. 

22 SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 

23 The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 

24 bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3, at 


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

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

3 SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 

4 (a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck pursu5 ant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 

6 51 of title 31, United States Code. 

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

8 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck 

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

Æ 


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