I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1003 
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 
FEBRUARY 6, 2019 
Mrs. LAWRENCE (for herself, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia, Ms. WATERS, Mr. 
COHEN, Mr. SOTO, Mr. HIGGINS of New York, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, 
Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire, Mr. HORSFORD, Ms. 
SPANBERGER, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. SIRES, Mrs. 
WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. 
BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. 
PLASKETT, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Ms. 
TLAIB, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Ms. 
OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. COLLINS of New York, Mr. PETERSON, Ms. BASS, 
Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Mr. EVANS, Mr. COLE, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, 
Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. NADLER, Mr. 
CICILLINE, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. NORTON, Ms. 
WILSON of Florida, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. 
SERRANO, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. VEASEY, 
Ms. MOORE, and Ms. CLARKE of New York) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
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. 
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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 ‘‘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. 
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(5) Aretha Franklin’s contributions go beyond 
music and arts. 
(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. 
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(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the 
presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary 
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. 
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 
gold medal referred to in subsection (a), the gold 
medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, 
where it will be displayed as appropriate 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 this Act avail-
able for display elsewhere, particularly at other loca-
tions and events associated with Aretha Franklin. 
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. 
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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. 
Æ 
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