I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1222 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal collectively to the Buffalo Soldier 
regiments, authorized by Congress in 1866 to serve in the United States 
Armed Forces, in recognition of their superior, dedicated, and vital 
service to our Nation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2023 
Ms. STRICKLAND (for herself and Mr. KIM of New Jersey) introduced the fol-
lowing 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 consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal collectively to the 
Buffalo Soldier regiments, authorized by Congress in 
1866 to serve in the United States Armed Forces, in 
recognition of their superior, dedicated, and vital service 
to our Nation. 
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 the ‘‘Buffalo Soldiers Con-
gressional Gold Medal Act of 2023’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 1866, Congress passed the Army Organi-
zation Act which authorized the creation of six all- 
Black cavalry and infantry regiments. These regi-
ments remained active until the Army was deseg-
regated in 1951. 
(2) According to legend, American Indians 
called the Black cavalry troops ‘‘Buffalo Soldiers’’ 
because of their dark, curly hair, which resembled a 
buffalo’s coat. 
(3) The African-American troops accepted the 
name with pride and honor, as they were aware of 
the buffalo’s fierce bravery and fighting spirit. 
(4) The original six regiments melded into the 
following four regiments: 
(A) The 9th Cavalry Regiment assembled 
in New Orleans, Louisiana, in August and Sep-
tember of 1866. They were ordered to San An-
tonio, Texas, in April 1867, with the mission to 
maintain order and to secure the road from San 
Antonio to El Paso. 
(B) The 10th Cavalry Regiment gathered 
in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, during the sum-
mer of 1867. In August 1867, they were or-
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dered to Fort Riley, Kansas, with the mission 
of protecting the Pacific Railroad. 
(C) The 24th Infantry Regiment was orga-
nized in 1869, forming from the 38th and 41st 
Colored 
Infantry 
Regiments. 
They 
served 
throughout the Western United States, with the 
mission to protect frontier posts and secure 
roadways. 
(D) The 25th Infantry Regiment assem-
bled at Camp William Penn, Pennsylvania, be-
ginning in January 1864. They were assigned 
to numerous districts within the Department of 
the Gulf with the mission to maintain security. 
(5) Buffalo Soldiers also assisted in the protec-
tion of National Parks. They helped fight wildfires 
and poachers in the Yosemite and Sequoia National 
Parks and served as park rangers in the Sierra Ne-
vada. 
(6) In the Spanish-American War, all four regi-
ments played key roles and fought with distinction, 
despite facing severe discrimination from the locals. 
(7) At the start of World War I, the Buffalo 
Soldier regiments were dispatched to locations 
throughout central United States and into the Pa-
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cific, offering logistics and support behind the front 
lines in the American Expeditionary Forces. 
(8) During World War II, African-American 
soldiers and units continued to serve proudly under 
the name ‘‘Buffalo Soldier’’, including the 92nd In-
fantry Division, which was the only Black division 
that saw combat in Europe. 
(9) In the Korean War, Buffalo Soldier regi-
ments fought throughout the Korean peninsula, 
from the defense of the ‘‘Pusan Perimeter’’ to the 
counteroffensives which resulted in the end of armed 
hostilities and the creation of the Demilitarized 
Zone. 
(10) Buffalo Soldiers had the lowest military 
desertion and court-martial rates of their time. In 
recognition of combat valor and their actions beyond 
the call of duty, many were awarded the Congres-
sional Medal of Honor. 
(11) The Congressional Gold Medal would be 
an appropriate way to shed further light on the serv-
ice of the Buffalo Soldiers and the instrumental role 
they played in instilling an approach to inclusivity 
within our military and the American way of life. 
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SEC. 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 Congress, of a single gold medal of 
appropriate design to the Buffalo Soldier regiments, au-
thorized by Congress in 1866 to serve in the United States 
Armed Forces, in recognition of their superior, dedicated, 
and vital service to our Nation. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purposes of the 
award 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. 
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 
gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal 
shall be given to the National Museum of African 
American History and Culture of the Smithsonian 
Institution, where it shall be displayed as appro-
priate and made available 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 
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locations and events associated with the Buffalo Sol-
diers. 
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 under 
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 
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4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public 
Enterprise Fund. 
Æ 
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