I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3250
To authorize the President to present a gold medal on behalf of Congress
to the Sioux Indians who served as Sioux Code Talkers during World
War II in recognition of their service to the Nation.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 7, 2001
Mr. THUNE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Financial Services
A BILL
To authorize the President to present a gold medal on behalf
of Congress to the Sioux Indians who served as Sioux
Code Talkers during World War II in recognition of
their service to the 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 ‘‘Sioux Code Talkers
Recognition Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Sioux Indians used their native languages,
Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota Sioux, as code during
World War II.
(2) These people, who manned radio commu-
nications networks to advise of enemy actions, be-
came known as the Sioux Code Talkers.
(3) Under some of the heaviest combat action,
the Code Talkers worked around the clock to provide
information which saved the lives of many Ameri-
cans in the Pacific and Europe, such as the location
of enemy troops and the number of enemy guns.
(4) The Sioux Code Talkers were so successful
that military commanders credit the code with sav-
ing the lives of countless American soldiers and
being instrumental to the success of the United
States in many battles during World War II.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The President
may present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal of appro-
priate design, to each Sioux Code Talker, including the
following:
(1) Eddie Eagle Boy.
(2) Simon Brokenleg.
(3) Iver Crow Eagle, Sr.
(4) Edmund St. John.
(5) Walter C. John.
(6) John Bear King.
(7) Phillip ‘‘Stoney’’ LaBlanc.
(8) Baptiste Pumpkinseed.
(9) Guy Rondell.
(10) Charles Whitepipe.
(11) Clarence Wolfguts.
(b) MEDALS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY.—Medals
authorized by this Act may be awarded posthumously on
behalf of, and presented to a surviving family member of,
a Sioux Code Talker.
(c) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—The medals authorized
by this Act are to express recognition by the United States
and its citizens and to honor the Sioux Code Talkers who
distinguished themselves in performing a unique, highly
successful communications operation that greatly assisted
in saving countless lives and in hastening the end of World
War II in the Pacific and Europe. For the purposes of
the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall strike gold medals with suit-
able emblems, 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 there-
of, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses, and the cost of the bronze medal.
SEC. 5. STATUS AS NATIONAL MEDALS.
The medals struck pursuant to 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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