(B) ‘‘To help promote a better under-
standing of Americans on the part of the peo-
ples served.’’. Through their service, Volunteers 
share the United States and its values. Their 
outstanding contributions to the nations of the 
world help promote cultural understanding. 
(C) ‘‘To help promote a better under-
standing of other peoples on the part of Ameri-
cans.’’. Volunteers immerse themselves in local 
cultures, and learn about opportunities, re-
sources, and people in their host countries. 
When they return to the United States, they 
share their experiences with family, friends, and 
the public, which helps promote cultural under-
standing, volunteerism, and public service. 
(9) During a Rose Garden ceremony at the 
White House on April 23, 1985, accompanied by 
Vice President George H.W. Bush and Peace Corps 
Director Loret Miller Ruppe, President Ronald 
Reagan wished Volunteers success for their assign-
ments in Africa, saying, ‘‘Soon you’ll be in Africa, 
where you’ll be a vital part of the relief aid to help 
the millions suffering from malnutrition and starva-
tion. You’ll be living in some of the most impover-
ished countries of the world, working in food produc-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
tion, soil conservation, fisheries production, forest 
preservation, and water supply development. By 
bringing your training and skills to bear on the un-
derlying problems of agricultural and economic de-
velopment, you can help your host nations make the 
difficult but vital journey from dependence on short- 
term aid to self-sufficiency. Vice President Bush re-
turned from his trip to the famine-stricken regions 
of Africa, he gave me a personal account of the 
heartbreaking conditions in that land. While there, 
he visited one Peace Corps project, and he told me 
of the outstanding work of the Peace Corps volun-
teers. The crisis in Africa is severe and the problems 
deeply rooted, but relief efforts are already making 
a great difference.’’. 
(10) Peace Corps senior leaders, staff, and Vol-
unteers have honored President Kennedy’s vision for 
the Peace Corps and his legacy. During a March 1, 
1996, speech for the 35th anniversary of the Peace 
Corps, Sargent Shriver said, ‘‘The Peace Corps rep-
resents some, if not all, of the best virtues in this 
society. It stands for everything that America has 
ever stood for. It stands for everything we believe in 
and hope to achieve in the world.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(11) The Peace Corps, since its pioneering cre-
ation by President Kennedy and an ensuing 65 years 
of support by the Federal Government, has proven 
to be one of the most successful United States for-
eign policy programs in the history of our Nation. 
The importance of the Peace Corps was reinforced 
in a May 24, 2017, opinion article by General Colin 
Powell, retired Secretary of State, when he said, 
‘‘Indeed, we’re strongest when the face of America 
isn’t only a soldier carrying a gun but a diplomat 
negotiating peace, a Peace Corps Volunteer bringing 
clean water to a village, or a relief worker stepping 
off a cargo plane as floodwaters rise.’’. 
(12) The global accomplishments of Volunteers 
toward world peace and friendship and their resolute 
service to the United States are deserving of robust 
public recognition and respect. As President Ken-
nedy said, after signing Executive Order 10924 (26 
Fed. Reg. 1789) creating the Peace Corps, ‘‘The ini-
tial reactions to the Peace Corps proposal are con-
vincing proof that we have, in this country, an im-
mense reservoir of such men and women—anxious to 
sacrifice their energies and time and toil to the 
cause of world peace and human progress.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(13) Some Volunteers made the ultimate sac-
rifice while in service. According to the Fallen Peace 
Corps Volunteers Memorial Project, more than 300 
Volunteers have died in service, or following close of 
service as a result of service-related causes, since the 
Peace Corps began in 1961. Their significant sac-
rifices and service to our Nation and their host 
countries should be honored with reverence. 
(14) During the COVID–19 pandemic, over 
7,000 Volunteers were recalled from their work in 
host countries. Though they were evacuated for 
health reasons from their assigned projects, they 
continued to volunteer when they returned to the 
United States to support the national response to a 
global health crisis. Former Peace Corps Director, 
Josephine (Jody) Olsen, who supervised the complex 
and immediate recall process, wrote, ‘‘Odysseys by 
individual Peace Corps Volunteers forged over six 
decades made the total evacuation of seven thousand 
Volunteers due of Covid–19 in 2020 possible. As I 
sent out the immediate evacuation order on March 
15, I trusted that in sixty-one countries, the thou-
sands of host country families, teachers, clinic direc-
tors, local taxi drivers, community security officers, 
airlines, and medical officials that support Volun-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
teers would selflessly offer their help. These thou-
sands shared painful good-byes and supported the 
safe movement of all of the volunteers to capital cit-
ies, international airports, charter flights to the US 
over the course of nine days without illness or acci-
dent.’’. When Volunteers returned to the United 
States, many shifted their work to support domestic 
initiatives, including COVID–19 surveillance and 
health programs in collaboration with the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. The EPA connected Vol-
unteers who returned to the United States with roles 
in public health for pandemic response efforts in the 
United States. Meanwhile, the Peace Corps launched 
the Virtual Service Pilot, allowing Volunteers who 
returned to the United States and other United 
States citizens to work remotely with international 
partners on community projects across sectors like 
health, education, and agriculture. The Virtual Serv-
ice Pilot expanded rapidly, demonstrating the poten-
tial for virtual service to complement traditional 
Peace Corps work, providing flexible opportunities 
for such Volunteers to contribute globally from 
home. 
(15) Returned Volunteers promote a better un-
derstanding of other peoples and cultures when they 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
share their experiences and knowledge about their 
service overseas with Americans at home, the third 
goal of the Peace Corps described in paragraph 
8(C). With regard to the third goal, the Peace 
Corps’ Congressional Budget Justification for Fiscal 
Year 2026 states that by increasing mutual under-
standing and lasting ties between the people of the 
United States and other countries, the Peace Corps 
helps create better trading partners, strengthens re-
lationships with allies, inhibits extremism, and coun-
teracts the growing influence of America’s adver-
saries. Volunteers strengthen U.S. national security 
through improved relations with host governments 
and by showcasing America as an international lead-
er. The agency also helps cultivate the next genera-
tion of U.S. civic and business leaders. Volunteers 
return home and, for long after the conclusion of 
their service, contribute the adaptive leadership and 
entrepreneurial skills they gained during service to 
American communities. 
(16) On December 6, 1987, about 120,000 Vol-
unteers and Peace Corps staff received the Beyond 
War Award. The inscription on the poster for the re-
cipients of the award reads, ‘‘Presented to the 
120,000 Current and Returned Volunteers of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Peace Corps ‘to learn peace, to live peace, and to 
labor for peace, from the beginning of their service 
to the end of their lives.’ A Peace Corps mission 
statement.’’. 
(17) Members of the 107th Congress nominated 
the Peace Corps for the Nobel Peace Prize. In a 
June 27, 2002, letter to the Nobel Peace Prize Com-
mittee, 10 members of the 107th Congress signed 
the letter saying, ‘‘The impact of Volunteers on 
international peace through understanding and co-
operation goes far beyond development projects. Vol-
unteers bring people and cultures together. They 
share ideas and ideals of their home community, but 
they also learn to speak the language, eat the food, 
sing the songs, and incorporate the qualities of their 
host communities into their own lives. They travel 
overseas to represent the United States, and they re-
turn home to represent the world within the United 
States. The central mission of all Volunteers, both 
overseas and after they return home, is peace. The 
Peace Corps and the community of Returned Peace 
Corps Volunteers, represented by the National Peace 
Corps Association, create the climate, the conditions, 
the momentum, and the spirit of peace that is need-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
ed all over the world. For this reason, they deserve 
the Nobel Peace Prize.’’. 
(18) In February 2011, Members of the 112th 
Congress recommended to President Barack Obama 
that the Peace Corps should be nominated for a 
Nobel Peace Prize. The letter to President Obama, 
authored by Congressman Sam Farr, said, ‘‘For a 
half-century Peace Corps has served as a vehicle of 
peace and hope for impoverished communities 
around the world. Now more than ever, as the world 
suffers from divisive transnational conflicts and es-
calating threats, Peace Corps continues to stand as 
an unparalleled beacon of peace and optimism. Be-
stowing the Peace Corps with the Nobel Peace Prize 
will undoubtedly work to promote volunteerism and 
inspire the next generation of Americans to be 
peaceful stewards of both their country and the 
world.’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Volunteers should be acknowledged and 
thanked publicly for their service to the United 
States and their host countries whenever the appro-
priate occasions arise. Retired United States Navy 
Admiral James Stavridis, former North Atlantic 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Treaty Organization Supreme Allied Commander, 
said, ‘‘What someone brings when they come back 
from typically two years [of Peace Corps service] is 
just a remarkable sense of our nation and a remark-
able sense of the world, and really a . . . stronger 
sense of themselves and being part of those bigger 
things. As a retired military guy . . . people con-
stantly come up to me and say, ‘Admiral, thank you 
for your service.’ And it means a lot to me. It means 
a lot to every veteran to hear that. So whenever I 
do an interview where I have a chance to, I say to 
Peace Corps Volunteers, ‘Thank you for your serv-
ice.’ ’’; 
(2) the people of the United States are grateful 
and indebted to Volunteers for their excellence in 
numerous professional fields, their essential and 
dedicated contributions to communities of their host 
countries, their effective means of communicating 
the American spirit of peace and friendship, and for 
their sharing of their experiences overseas with indi-
viduals in the United States; 
(3) on behalf of the United States, Congress ex-
presses the highest public gratitude for the distin-
guished contributions of Volunteers for 65 years. 
The Congressional Gold Medal is an appropriate 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
award to recognize the outstanding achievements of 
Volunteers for their valued service to the United 
States, and their role in promoting world peace and 
friendship, as a significant component of United 
States foreign policy; and 
(4) the production of the gold medal be expe-
dited so that the medal can be presented to the 
Peace Corps at a respectful ceremony, either at the 
Capitol Rotunda or at another suitable location, not 
later than September 22, 2026. 
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 presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a single 
gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration to the 
Director of the Peace Corps in the District of Columbia, 
in recognition of the Peace Corps volunteers and their 
dedicated and distinguished service to our Nation and pro-
motion of world peace and friendship. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the 
presentation described in subsection (a), the Secretary of 
the Treasury (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) 
shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, 
and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(c) THE PEACE CORPS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 
gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal 
shall be given to the Peace Corps headquarters, 
where it shall be available for display as appropriate 
and made available for research. 
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Director of the Peace Corps 
should make the gold medal, awarded pursuant to 
this Act, available for display elsewhere, particularly 
at appropriate locations associated with Peace Corps 
volunteers and that preference should be given to lo-
cations affiliated with the Peace Corps. 
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 costs of the bronze medals, 
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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
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. 
(b) PROCEEDS OF SALES.—Amounts received from 
the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under sec-
tion 4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Pub-
lic Enterprise Fund. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:29 Oct 01, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5521.IH
H5521
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS