[116th Congress Public Law 195]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 983]]
ROSIE THE RIVETER CONGRESSIONAL
GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2019
[[Page 134 STAT. 984]]
Public Law 116-195
116th Congress
An Act
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the women in the
United States who joined the workforce during World War II, providing
the aircraft, vehicles, weaponry, ammunition and other material to win
the war, that were referred to as ``Rosie the Riveter'', in recognition
of their contributions to the United States and the inspiration they
have provided to ensuing generations. <<NOTE: Dec. 3, 2020 - [H.R.
1773]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Rosie the
Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019. 31 USC 5111 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold
Medal Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Over 70 years ago there was a call to action, a demand
for workers to fill the vacancies left by the men who went to
fight in the war.
(2) More than 6 million women answered the call then,
entering the workforce during World War II and providing the
equipment, weaponry and ammunition to achieve final victory and
end the war.
(3) These women left their homes to work or volunteer full-
time in factories, farms, shipyards, airplane factories, banks,
and other institutions in support of the military overseas.
(4) They worked with the United Service Organizations and
the American Red Cross, drove trucks, riveted airplane parts,
collected critical materials, rolled bandages, and served on
rationing boards.
(5) Our ``Rosie the Riveter'', the women who worked and
sacrificed to strengthen this country during World War II, are
among the greatest living heroines in the United States.
(6) These women persevered, despite often facing harassment
from their male colleagues and disapproval from their male
family members, and all the while continued to maintain their
``other jobs'' as caretakers of children and their households.
(7) Minority women also overcame long-held policies of
discrimination and made significant contributions to the war
effort.
(8) Because of the ``Rosies'', Federal, State, and local
agencies coordinated with business owners to develop childcare
programs and other supports for working mothers.
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(9) The example that these women set during World War II
continues to inspire us and blaze a path for the working women
and young girls of today.
(10) Specifically, the images of ``Rosie the Riveter'' and
the phrase ``We Can Do It'' continue to symbolize the
empowerment of women today, representing patriotic women who
want to serve and strengthen their country, and to inspire young
girls to become ``21st Century Rosies'' by aspiring to, and
attaining positions of leadership in all walks of life in
America.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Rosie the Riveter.--The term ``Rosie the Riveter'' includes any
female individual who held employment or volunteered in support of the
war efforts during World War II.
(b) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Treasury.
SEC. 4. 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 to Rosie the Riveter,
collectively, in recognition of their contributions to the Nation and
the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations.
(b) <<NOTE: Determination.>> 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) National Museum of American History.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal under
subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the National
Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution, 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
National Museum of American History shall make the gold medal
received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere,
particularly at other appropriate locations associated with
Rosie the Riveter.
SEC. 5. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 4 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.
SEC. 6. 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.
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SEC. 7. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with
the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Approved December 3, 2020.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1773:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 165 (2019):
Nov. 13, considered and passed
House.
Vol. 166 (2020):
Nov. 12, considered and passed
Senate.
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