Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal in recognition of the contributions of Giuseppe Garibaldi to the nation.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 742 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 742
To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Giuseppe Garibaldi
and to Recognize the Republic of Italy on the 150th Anniversary of its
Unification.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 16, 2011
Mr. Grimm (for himself, Mr. Pascrell, and Mr. King of New York)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Giuseppe Garibaldi
and to Recognize the Republic of Italy on the 150th Anniversary of its
Unification.
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) Giuseppe Garibaldi was born on July 4, 1807 in Nice.
(2) Garibaldi's family's involvement in coastal trade drew
him to a life at sea. He was certified in 1832 as a merchant
marine captain.
(3) As a young man Garibaldi joined the movement of La
Giovine Italia (``Young Italy'') which was founded by Giuseppe
Mazzini, who was an impassioned proponent of Italian
unification.
(4) Garibaldi participated in various independence
struggles throughout Central and South America.
(5) Garibaldi came to the United States where he applied
for citizenship and began learning English. He lived for a time
with inventor Antonio Meucci in his home in Staten Island, New
York.
(6) The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is a place where Italian-
American heritage and culture can be celebrated as well as
where the lives of Giuseppe Garibaldi and Antonio Meucci can be
remembered.
(7) The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum was listed on the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
(8) In 1854, Giuseppe Garibaldi left Staten Island, New
York and returned to Italy as the commander in the conflicts of
the Risorgimento to lead military forces that would provide for
the unification of Italy.
(9) The Risorgimento's progress was eagerly followed in a
United States ideologically opposed to European dynastic
``tyranny''. The victory was viewed in this country as a
powerful vindication of the right of the individual to
political self-determination.
(10) Giuseppe Garibaldi, who led Italy to unification in
1861, was offered a command as Major General in the Union Army
by President Abraham Lincoln. Garibaldi declined, but to honor
him, the 39th New York Infantry was known as ``The Garibaldi
Guard''. About 150 of its 850 men were Italian. It fought in
the Union Army from Bull Run to Appomattox.
(11) Garibaldi was an active freemason, and thought of
masonry as a network to unite men as brothers both within
nations and as members of a global community.
(12) Garibaldi spent the rest of his life in Caprera with
his wife, Francesca Armosino, and their children and family
members. He died on June 2, 1882.
(13) Giuseppe Garibaldi is one of the most symbolic figures
of the Republic of Italy and a national hero. Five Italian Navy
ships have been named after him, including the Italian navy's
current flagship, the aircraft carrier ``Giuseppe Garibaldi''.
(14) On March 17, 2011, the Republic of Italy will
officially celebrate Italy's 150th Anniversary with a series of
activities across the nation of Italy, in Washington, DC and
throughout the United States to highlight the unique
partnership between Italy and the United States. As long time
allies, both nations share a common set of values, historical
ties, and cultural relations that span multiple centuries.
(15) From the arts and sciences to political thinking and
beyond, the lives and ideas of great men like Andrea Palladio
and Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Antonio Meucci, and
Giuseppe Garibaldi and Abraham Lincoln have inspired and
enlightened one another.
(16) Today, the legacy of immigrants is found throughout
the United States in the millions of American men, women and
children of Italian descent and the community organizations
such as the National Italian American Foundation and others
that serve to strengthen and enrich our country.
(17) Upon arrival to a new home, the Italian American
community faced racial, social, and religious discrimination.
Yet, Italian Americans persevered with hope and hard work to
reach the American dream, flourished in all areas of public and
economic life, and helped build our great country while
preserving their proud Italian traditions. As proud service
members, they have also defended the liberty and integrity of
the United States of America since the Revolutionary War,
during both World Wars, the wars in Vietnam, Korea and the
Persian Gulf up until today's current conflicts.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--
(1) In general.--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 Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in
recognition of the contributions of Giuseppe Garibaldi to the
Nation.
(2) Display of medal in capitol visitor center.--The
Architect of the Capitol shall arrange for the gold medal
presented under this subsection to be displayed in the Capitol
Visitor Center as part of an exhibit honoring Giuseppe
Garibaldi.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred
to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in
this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with suitable
emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal 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, and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The 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 sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 5. 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.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology.
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