Korean War Combat Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act

To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Korean war combat veterans, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Korean war. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Korean War Combat Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Korean war began on June 25, 1950, and an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953. (2) The Korean conflict began when troops of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea, invaded the Republic of Korea (ROK), commonly known as South Korea. A United Nations Resolution denounced the DPRK’s invasion and called for a cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of the DPRK to the 38th parallel. (3) To enforce the United Nations Resolution, President Harry S. Truman ordered United States air, land, and naval forces to aid the ROK. (4) During the Korean war, members of the United States military served as part of a unified United Nations force which included armed forces from 27 other nations. This is the first instance that United States service members were used to enforce a resolution of the United Nations. (5) 5,720,000 United States service members served during the period of the Korean war from 1950 through 1953. During the conflict, 36,574 made the ultimate sacrifice and 103,284 were wounded. (6) Today, approximately 1,280,000 Korean war veterans are alive. (7) The courage, bravery, and selflessness of the American service members who fought as part of the United Nations forces deployed to the Korean Peninsula for global peace and security are recognized. (8) Korean war combat veterans include those who served honorably in an active-duty status under the command of United States and United Nations forces on the air, land, and sea of the Korean Peninsula from June 25, 1950 through July 27, 1953. 3. 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 a single gold medal of appropriate design to the Korean war combat veterans, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Korean war. (b) Design and striking For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary (c) Smithsonian Institution (1) In general Following the award of the gold medal in honor of the Korean war combat veterans, under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as appropriate and made for research. (2) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the Korean war combat veterans. 4. Duplicate medals Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 5. Status of medals (a) National medals Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 (b) Numismatic items For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

Summary: Korean War Combat Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make appropriate arrangements for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the Korean War combat veterans, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Korean War. The medal shall be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, which is urged to make the medal available for display at other locations associated with the Korean War combat veterans.