I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 973 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., in recogni-
tion of his unique and substantial contributions across America in lifting 
marginalized people, communities, and institutions that continue to strug-
gle for economic mobility, access to greater opportunities, equity, and 
equality for all people. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 9, 2023 
Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia (for herself, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mrs. 
MCBATH, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, and Mr. BISHOP of Georgia) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Fi-
nancial Services 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Thomas W. Dortch, 
Jr., in recognition of his unique and substantial contribu-
tions across America in lifting marginalized people, com-
munities, and institutions that continue to struggle for 
economic mobility, access to greater opportunities, equity, 
and equality for all people. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as ‘‘Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. 
Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., was born April 12, 
1950, in Toccoa, Georgia, to Lizzie Dortch and 
Thomas W. Dortch, Sr., and went on to become an 
influential leader and mentor as well as a successful 
businessperson and crusader for equal justice. 
(2) After graduating from Whitman Street 
High School in 1968, Dortch attended Fort Valley 
State University in Fort Valley, Georgia, and grad-
uated with a bachelor of arts in sociology in 1972. 
That year, he began his formal career by seeking to 
aid 
disenfranchised 
people 
through 
proposing 
projects for the State of Georgia. In 1974, he be-
came the associate director of the Georgia Demo-
cratic Party. In 1978, Dortch began working as an 
administrative aide for Senator Sam Nunn of Geor-
gia and eventually became State Director, the first 
African American to serve in this position. Dortch 
worked tirelessly to represent the interests of small 
businesses, minorities, and other marginalized indi-
viduals and institutions. 
(3) In 1986, Dortch joined the 100 Black Men 
of America, an international mentoring program in-
tended to improve the quality of life and opportuni-
ties for education and employment for African 
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Americans. He served as chairman of 100 Black 
Men of Atlanta and became the chairman of 100 
Black Men of America’s national board of directors. 
That same year, he earned his master of arts in 
criminal justice administration from Clark Atlanta 
University and married Carole Dortch. 
(4) In 1994, after more than 16 years of gov-
ernment service, Dortch left his position to pursue 
his own business interests. He became CEO of the 
consulting firm TWD, Inc., and Atlanta Transpor-
tation Systems, Inc., a Fulton County paratransit 
company. He still holds both positions. 
(5) Dortch has won numerous awards high-
lighting his achievements, including a Presidential 
Citation for volunteerism from President Barack 
Obama, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Distinguished 
Service Award, and the Concerned Black Clergy’s 
Salute to Black Fathers Leadership Award. Dortch 
has four children. His unique and substantial con-
tributions across America in lifting marginalized 
people, communities, and institutions that continue 
to struggle for economic mobility, access to greater 
opportunities, equity, and equality for all people. 
(6) Dortch is an institution builder that in-
cluded founding the National Black College Alumni 
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Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc., cofounding the 
Georgia Association of Minority Entrepreneurs 
(GAME) to fill a void as an advocacy organization 
for minority business development, and cofounding 
the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance as a capacity 
building and business development organization for 
the construction and transportation industries. 
(7) Dortch is the recipient of numerous awards 
and honors that celebrate his efforts, a partial list 
includes: listed in the 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 
May editions of Ebony magazine as one of the 100 
Most Influential African Americans; listed in Spring 
2001 through 2014 Publications of Atlanta Business 
Chronicle as one of the 100 Most Influential Atlan-
tans; 2008 Community Service Professional of the 
Year Award; 2008 FraserNet Community Service 
Award; and 2008 Global Leadership Empowerment 
Award. 
(8) Dortch’s volunteer board service includes 
serving on the Board of Trustees of Leadership At-
lanta, Vice Chairman of the Board, Grady Memorial 
Hospital Corporation, Chairman of the Board, 
Friendship Force International, Chairman of the 
Board, Fulton/DeKalb County Hospital Authority; 
2010 was inducted into Atlanta Convention and 
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Visitors Bureau’s Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame; 
three-term Chairman of the Board, The Atlanta 
Business League: Chair, Fort Valley State Univer-
sity Foundation Board, Member of Operation Hope 
Board of Trustees, Florida Agricultural and Me-
chanical University Board of Trustees, Talladega 
College Board of Trustees, Clark Atlanta University 
Board of Trustees, and Chairman of the Board, Na-
tional Coalition on Black Civic Participation. 
(9) In 2019, Dortch was inducted into the 
International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. The Civil 
Rights Walk of Fame was created to recognize the 
courageous soldiers of justice who sacrificed and 
struggled to make equality a reality for all. Dortch’s 
footstep impression joined those of civil and human 
rights icons, such as Rosa Parks, Archbishop Emer-
itus Desmond Tutu, Ambassador Andrew Young, 
Congressman John Lewis, and others. 
(10) Dortch’s philanthropic and investment ad-
vice and counsel, particularly to corporate America, 
have benefitted countless minority organizations, in-
stitutions, and communities across America to real-
ize and grow their programming and impact. 
(11) Dortch received honorary doctors degrees 
from Fayetteville State University, Jarvis Christian 
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College, Fort Valley State University, University of 
Maryland Eastern Shore, and Livingstone College. 
(12) Dortch was recently honored by Clark At-
lanta University and the National Coalition on Black 
Civic Participation in 2021 with the creation of the 
NCBCP Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., Institute for Lead-
ership, Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment, 
and Social Justice. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZATION.—The Speaker 
of the House of Representatives and the President pro 
tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrange-
ments for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of 
a gold medal of appropriate design to Thomas W. Dortch, 
Jr., in recognition of his unique and substantial contribu-
tions across America in lifting marginalized people, com-
munities, and institutions that continue to struggle for 
economic mobility, access to greater opportunities, equity, 
and equality for all people. 
(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 ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, 
devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Sec-
retary. 
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SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 
bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3, at 
a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, 
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck pursu-
ant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 
51 of title 31, United States Code. 
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of sections 
5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals 
struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic 
items. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF 
SALE. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.—There is 
authorized to be charged against the United States Mint 
Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be nec-
essary to pay for the costs of the medals struck under 
this Act. 
(b) PROCEEDS OF SALE.—Amounts received from the 
sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 
4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public 
Enterprise Fund. 
Æ 
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