Gold Star Families Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021
Bill: S.1882 | Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard (D-CT)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Gold Star Families Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021
This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to all Gold Star Families in recognition of their dedication, contributions, and sacrifice to the United States.


To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to all Gold Star 
 Families in recognition of their sacrifice and service to the United 
                                States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Gold Star Families Congressional 
Gold Medal Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The fortitude of Gold Star Families in the midst of 
        tragedy strengthen the resolve of the United States.
            (2) Since World War I, military families have used Gold 
        Stars to memorialize their family member's sacrifice on behalf 
        of the country, represent the devotion and pride of the family 
        in this sacrifice, and glorify rather than grieve their 
        military service.
            (3) Gold Stars were first used by military families during 
        World War I.
            (4) When a family member passed away during their service, 
        families would place a Gold Star on their Service Flag to 
        represent the sacrifice the family had paid in the cause of 
        freedom.
            (5) On May 28, 1918, President Wilson approved a suggestion 
        made by the Women's Committee of the Council of National 
        Defenses that, instead of wearing conventional mourning garb 
        for relatives who passed away during their military service, 
        women would wear a black band with a gilt star on their left 
        arm to signify each member of the family who gave their life 
        for the United States.
            (6) In 1928, 25 mothers of fallen servicemembers worked 
        together to establish a national organization to support those 
        who had lost their children during the war, which was known as 
        the American Gold Star Mothers Inc. and officially incorporated 
        in January 1929.
            (7) Since September 1936, the United States has observed 
        various recognized dates to support Gold Star Families and 
        honor the legacy of fallen heroes who have made the ultimate 
        sacrifice.
            (8) In 1945, Eleanor Roosevelt helped to establish Gold 
        Star Wives of America, Inc., a national organization to support 
        the families left behind by the fallen members and veterans of 
        the Armed Forces who died on active duty or as a result of a 
        service-connected disability.
            (9) In August 1947, Congress authorized the issuance of 
        gold star lapel pins to families who lost a loved one in 
        combat.
            (10) The extraordinary contribution of Gold Star Families 
        is beyond measure, not merely for their loss, but the comfort 
        they selflessly provide others and their model of service and 
        sacrifice.
            (11) Through their service, Gold Star Families keep alive 
        the spirit of patriotism and love of country and promote peace 
        and good will for the United States and all other countries.
            (12) Gold Star Families continue to perpetuate the memory 
        of those who fought and died on behalf of the United States.
            (13) Gold Star Families embody the purpose of the 
        Congressional Gold Medal of honoring distinguished 
        contributions, recognizing virtues of patriotism, and 
        remembering momentous occasions in history.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the term ``Gold Star Family'' includes any individual 
described in section 3.2 of Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36.

SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

    (a) Award Authorized.--The President pro tempore of the Senate and 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make appropriate 
arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold 
medal of appropriate design to all Gold Star Families in recognition of 
their dedication, contributions, and sacrifice to the United States.
    (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to 
in subsection (a), the Secretary shall strike the 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 in 
        honor of Gold Star Families, the gold medal shall be given to 
        the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be available for 
        display 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 paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, 
        particularly at other appropriate locations associated with 
        Gold Star Families.
    (d) Duplicate Medals.--
            (1) In general.--Under regulations that the Secretary may 
        promulgate, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 
        bronze of the gold medal struck under this Act, at a price 
        sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, 
        materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
            (2) Proceeds of sales.--The amounts received from the sale 
        of duplicate medals under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in 
        the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.

    (a) National Medals.--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 section 5134 of title 31, 
United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be 
considered to be numismatic items.
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