I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4254
To authorize the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President 
Pro Tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the 
presentation, on behalf of Congress, of gold medals to the Meskwaki 
Code Talkers in recognition of their contributions to the Nation during 
World War II, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2004
Mr. BOSWELL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To authorize the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to make 
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf 
of Congress, of gold medals to the Meskwaki Code Talk-
ers in recognition of their contributions to the Nation 
during World War II, and for other purposes.
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 ‘‘Meskwaki Code Talk-
ers Recognition Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) During World War II, 8 members of the 
Meskwaki tribe of Tama County, Iowa, used their 
native language as code to transmit vital information 
to the United States Armed Forces regarding enemy 
actions, locations, troops, and ammunition. 
(2) These Meskwaki tribe members, known as 
the Meskwaki Code Talkers, worked under chal-
lenging conditions in North Africa, taking extreme 
risks to provide critical information to the United 
States Armed Forces. 
(3) 
Frank 
Sanache, 
the 
only 
surviving 
Meskwaki Code Talker, endured severe hardships 
both while he was stationed in North Africa and 
while he was held prisoner in a Polish internment 
camp after being captured by the Germans. 
(4) The enemy was never able to translate the 
native Meskwaki language, and the Meskwaki Code 
Talkers, among other Code Talkers, are credited 
with saving the lives of countless members of the 
United States Armed Forces and contributing sig-
nificantly to the victory of the United States and its 
allies.
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 Congress, of gold medals 
of appropriate design to each of the 8 Meskwaki Code 
Talkers, including—
(1) Edward Benson; 
(2) Dewey Roberts; 
(3) Frank Sanache; 
(4) Willard Sanache; 
(5) Melvin Twin; 
(6) Judy Wayne Wabaunasee; 
(7) Mike Wayne Wabaunasee; and 
(8) Dewey Youngbear. 
(b) ADDITIONAL MEDALS.—The Speaker of the 
House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore 
of the Senate may make appropriate arrangements for the 
presentation of additional medals to other individuals not 
designated in subsection (a) who also served as Meskwaki 
Code Talkers during World War II. 
(c) MEDALS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY.—The med-
als authorized by this Act may be awarded posthumously 
to a surviving family member of the individuals designated 
in subsection (a) and referred to in subsection (b).
(d) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purpose of the 
presentation referred to in this section, the Secretary of 
the Treasury shall strike a gold medal with suitable em-
blems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the 
Secretary. 
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell 
duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant 
to section 3 under such regulations as the Secretary may 
prescribe, and at a price sufficient to cover the costs of 
the duplicate medals and the gold medal (including labor, 
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses). 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL MEDALS. 
The medals struck under this Act are national medals 
for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code. 
SEC. 6. FUNDING. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.—There is 
authorized to be charged against the United States Mint 
Public Enterprise Fund an amount not to exceed $30,000 
to pay for the costs of the medals authorized by this Act. 
(b) PROCEEDS OF SALE.—Amounts received from the 
sale of duplicate bronze medals under section 4 shall be 
deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise 
Fund.
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