[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2668 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2668
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the American
individuals that were active in aiding and rescuing Jews and other
refugees during the period of Nazi Germany's genocidal ``Final
Solution'' policy to murder every Jew in Europe, in recognition of
their contributions, which resulted in tens of thousands of Jews and
others being spared from almost certain death.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 18, 2023
Ms. Chu (for herself, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Schrier, Mr.
Gottheimer, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Norton, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Sherman)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the American
individuals that were active in aiding and rescuing Jews and other
refugees during the period of Nazi Germany's genocidal ``Final
Solution'' policy to murder every Jew in Europe, in recognition of
their contributions, which resulted in tens of thousands of Jews and
others being spared from almost certain death.
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 ``US Rescue and Aid Individuals of
World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Between 1933 and 1945, United States rescue and relief
organizations were responsible for saving many thousands of
Jews and other refugees during the Holocaust. American groups
sponsored, financed, and organized numerous rescue and relief
efforts in Nazi-occupied and neutral Europe.
(2) These organizations operated in every country in
Europe. There were hundreds of American citizens involved in
this effort.
(3) The Jewish refugees and others who were saved from
almost certain death immigrated to the United States, Israel,
and other parts of the world.
(4) Refugee agencies worked in the face of opposition to
the resettling of Jewish refugees. In 1939, Congress rejected
proposals to offer asylum to 20,000 Jewish children. In the
same year, the United States refused asylum to Jewish refugees
aboard the S.S. ST. LOUIS, who were forced to return to Europe,
and 254 of whom died in the Holocaust.
(5) In addition, public opinion in America was largely
against aiding refugees, especially through immigration.
(6) The rescue of Jews and other refugees was, in some
cases, extremely dangerous, especially when conducted in Nazi-
occupied territories or in collaborator nations. A number of
rescuers were arrested, imprisoned, and some were killed.
(7) Many of these individuals and agencies aided in the
relief and resettlement of Jewish refugees and others after the
war.
(8) Among the most prominent was the War Refugee Board,
which was responsible for saving the lives of 200,000 Jews and
20,000 non-Jews.
(9) A number of these organizations to be honored are still
in existence and are continuing efforts to help refugees
throughout the world.
(10) The individuals being honored include any individual
who participated in the rescue or relief of Jews or other
refugees who were in danger as a result of the Nazi genocidal
policy against Jews and others in Europe, from 1933 to 1945.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate
arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold
medal of appropriate design in commemoration of the American
individuals that were active in aiding and rescuing Jews and other
refugees during the period of Nazi Germany's genocidal ``Final
Solution'' policy to murder every Jew in Europe, in recognition of
their contributions, which resulted in tens of thousands of Jews and
others being spared from almost certain death.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this
Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike the gold medal with suitable
emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal
under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where it shall be
available for display as appropriate and made available for
research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum should make the
gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display
elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations
associated with commemoration of the Holocaust.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
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 sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
pursuant to this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--The amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited
into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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