Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act - Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold medal collectively to the Filipino Veterans of World War II (Veterans) in recognition of their dedicated service during such War. States that such medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian) for display.
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian should make the medal available for display elsewhere, particularly at locations associated with the Veterans.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 111 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 111
To award a Congressional gold medal, collectively, to the Filipino
Veterans of World War II, in recognition of their dedicated service
during World War II.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2013
Ms. Hanabusa 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 a Congressional gold medal, collectively, to the Filipino
Veterans of World War II, in recognition of their dedicated service
during World War II.
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 ``Filipino Veterans of World War II
Congressional Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued an order
commissioning around 250,000 troops from the Philippines into
active service for the United States during World War II.
(2) The United States War Department immediately formed the
United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). The unit
was made up of the United States-Philippine Military Forces of
the Commonwealth Army, Guerrilla Units, New Philippine Scout.
(3) The Filipino Infantry Regiment, was mostly composed of
first-generation immigrants living along the Pacific Coast, who
volunteered after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941,
later many second-generation Filipino-American soldiers joined
the Regiment from Hawaii.
(4) The Philippine Scout units and the New Philippine
Scouts were directly recruited by the United States Army for
the war effort.
(5) Under extremely severe occupation policies imposed by
the Japanese, it was the anti-Japanese resistance movement that
drew more and more Filipinos to its side and through 1943 many
of these anti-Japanese guerrillas recovered or newly
established liaisons with the United States Army Command of the
Southwest Pacific Area and placed themselves under the command
of General Douglas MacArthur.
(6) These Filipino soldiers responded to President
Roosevelt's call-to-arms and later fought under the American
flag during World War II.
(7) After the Japanese invasion in December 1941, Filipino
and American troops literally shared the same fate at Bataan,
Corregidor, and the ``Death March''.
(8) Many made the ultimate sacrifice as both soldiers in
the United States Armed Forces in the Far East and as guerilla
fighters during the Imperial Japanese occupation of the
Philippines.
(9) These troops had served under the expectation that they
would be treated as United States military servicemembers.
(10) The Rescission Act of 1946 later passed, which stated
that Filipino forces would not be deemed to have been active
military.
(11) Congress recognizes the courage and bravery of the
Filipino and Filipino American servicemen and servicewomen who
have fought alongside and in the United States Armed Forces.
(12) The United States remains forever indebted to the
bravery, valor, and dedication to country these men displayed.
(13) Their commitment and sacrifice demonstrates a highly
uncommon and commendable sense of patriotism and honor.
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 the Congress, of a single gold
medal of appropriate design to the Filipino Veterans of World War II,
collectively in recognition of their dedicated service during World War
II.
(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 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 the Filipino Veterans of World War II under subsection
(a), the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian
Institution, where it will be displayed 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 the
Filipino Veterans of World War II.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the
Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal
struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the
medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--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. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, an
amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medal
authorized under section 3.
(b) Proceeds of the Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals under section 4 shall be deposited in the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
SEC. 7. DEFINITION.
For purposes of this Act, the term ``Filipino Veterans of World War
II'' shall apply to anyone who served honorably--
(1) in an active-duty status under the command of the
United States Armed Forces in the Far East; or
(2) within the Philippine Army, the Philippine Scouts, or
recognized guerrilla units, at any time during the period
beginning September 1, 1939, and ending December 31, 1946.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
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