[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2446 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2446
To award three Congressional Gold Medals to the law enforcement
officers and those who protected American cities during the Black Lives
Matter (BLM) riots beginning on May 26, 2020.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 12, 2021
Mrs. Greene of Georgia introduced the following 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 consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award three Congressional Gold Medals to the law enforcement
officers and those who protected American cities during the Black Lives
Matter (BLM) riots beginning on May 26, 2020.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Every day, police officers around the United States put
their lives in danger in order to protect the American public.
(2) On May 26, 2020, violent riots broke out in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, sparking copycat riots in cities across
the country.
(3) The sacrifice and courage of heroes including more than
2,000 law enforcement officers who sustained injuries exemplify
the patriotism and the commitment of police officers, and those
of other law enforcement agencies, to risk their lives in
service of our country.
(4) At least 25 Americans died following the violent riots,
and more than 2,000 law enforcement officers suffered physical
injuries.
(5) The desecration of American cities including the
destruction of over 700 buildings in Minneapolis alone, over
2,385 incidents of looting, the arrest of 16,200 for riot-
related crimes, and the millions of dollars of damage done are
horrors that will forever stain our Nation's history.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS.
(a) Presentation Authorization.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the
Congress, of three gold medals of appropriate design to the Minneapolis
Police Department, the Portland Police Department, and those who
protected American cities during the violent BLM riots during the
summer of 2020.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall strike gold medals with
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the
Secretary.
(c) Disposition of Medals.--Following the award of the gold medals
under subsection (a):
(1) Minneapolis police department headquarters.--One gold
medal shall be given to the Minneapolis Police Department, so
that the medal may be displayed at the headquarters of the
Minneapolis Police Department and made available for display.
(2) Portland police department headquarters.--One gold
medal shall be given to the Portland Police Department, so that
the medal may be displayed at the headquarters of the Portland
Police Department and made available for display.
(3) Smithsonian institution.--
(A) In general.--One gold medal shall be given to
the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be
available for display as appropriate and available for
research.
(B) Plaque.--In displaying the gold medal given
under subparagraph (A), the Smithsonian Institution
shall display the medal with a plaque that lists the
other law enforcement agencies that participated in
protecting the American people during the BLM riots
beginning on May 26th.
(C) Sense of the congress.--It is the sense of the
Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make
the gold medal given under subparagraph (A) available
for display elsewhere, particularly at appropriate
locations associated with the protection of American
cities during the BLM riots beginning on May 26th.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medals struck pursuant to section 2 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.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that the United States Mint should
expedite production of the gold medals and duplicate medals under this
Act, so that the sacrifices of fallen officers and their families, and
the contributions of other law enforcement agencies who answered the
call of duty during the BLM riots beginning on May 26th can be
recognized and honored in a timely manner.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant 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.
SEC. 6. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES.
The Secretary of the Treasury shall take such actions as may be
necessary to ensure that the minting and issuing of coins under this
Act will not result in any net cost to the United States Government.
<all>