I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6681 
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 
AUGUST 24, 2018 
Mrs. LAWRENCE (for herself, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia, Mr. COHEN, Ms. 
PLASKETT, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. NORTON, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. 
PAYNE, Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. LEE, Ms. BASS, Mr. 
CLEAVER, Mr. EVANS, Ms. MOORE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. 
DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. LAWSON of Flor-
ida, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. CLAY, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, 
Mr. CAPUANO, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. 
ESPAILLAT, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. RUSH, Mr. LEWIS of 
Georgia, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. JEFFRIES, Mr. 
SCHIFF, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. 
SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. GARAMENDI, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. 
KHANNA, Mrs. COMSTOCK, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. ELLISON, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. 
CUMMINGS, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. VEASEY, and Mr. CARSON of Indiana) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Fi-
nancial Services 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Aretha Franklin Con-
gressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Aretha Franklin was born on March 25, 
1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, and died peacefully at 
her home in Detroit, Michigan, surrounded by family 
and loved ones on August 16, 2018. 
(2) Aretha Franklin’s musical talents have in-
fluenced generations of musicians and political lead-
ers, creating a legacy that spans an incredible 6 dec-
ades. 
(3) Aretha Franklin, dubbed the ‘‘Queen of 
Soul’’, was the first woman ever inducted into the 
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was a 2005 recipient 
of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was a 
1999 recipient of the National Medal of Arts and 
Humanities Award, among other accolades. 
(4) Aretha Franklin’s music served as a 1960s 
call to action that inspired thousands to join civil 
rights movements and still resonates across these 
movements today. 
(5) Aretha Franklin’s contributions go beyond 
music and arts. 
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(6) Aretha Franklin was also a philanthropist 
who supported causes that advanced civil rights, 
human health, and gender equality. 
(7) Aretha Franklin’s talents instilled hope, up-
lifted generations, and changed the lives of millions 
of people across the globe. 
(8) The City of Detroit shaped Aretha’s life and 
music, as her father and church introduced her to 
local Motown artists. 
(9) In return, Aretha made countless contribu-
tions to the City of Detroit, and few people have 
played a greater role in shaping the Nation’s cul-
turally and socially relevant discography than Aretha 
Franklin. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of 
the House of Representatives and the President pro tem-
pore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements 
for the posthumous presentation, on behalf of Congress, 
of a gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration 
of Aretha Franklin, in recognition of her outstanding ar-
tistic and historical significance to the culture of the 
United States. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the 
presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary 
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of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Secretary’’) shall strike a gold medal with suitable em-
blems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the 
Secretary. 
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 
bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 
under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at 
a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, 
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, 
and the cost of the gold medal. 
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 section 
5134 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 pursuant 
to this Act. 
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(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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