Directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to arrange for the award, on behalf of Congress, of six gold medals in honor of the members of the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium), who became known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, in recognition of their military service during World War II.
Requires: (1) five of the medals to be given to the five surviving members of the April 18, 1942, Tokyo bombing mission, or their next of kin; and (2) the remaining medal to be given to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, where it shall be displayed with the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Goblets and made available for research.
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Museum should make the medal available for display elsewhere, particularly at locations and events associated with the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.
Designates medals stuck under this Act as national medals and numismatic items.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 381 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 381
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the
``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'', for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and
service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 26, 2013
Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Baucus, Mr.
Tester, Mr. Nelson, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Schatz, and Mrs. Murray)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the
``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'', for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and
service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) on April 18, 1942, the brave men of the 17th
Bombardment Group (Medium) became known as the ``Doolittle
Tokyo Raiders'' for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and
service to the United States in conducting the bombings of
Tokyo;
(2) 80 brave American aircraft crewmen, led by Lieutenant
Colonel James Doolittle, volunteered for an ``extremely
hazardous mission'', without knowing the target, location, or
assignment, and willingly put their lives in harm's way,
risking death, capture, and torture;
(3) the conduct of medium bomber operations from a Navy
aircraft carrier under combat conditions had never before been
attempted;
(4) after the discovery of the USS Hornet by Japanese
picket ships 170 miles further away from the prearranged launch
point, the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders proceeded to take off 670
miles from the coast of Japan;
(5) by launching more than 100 miles beyond the distance
considered to be minimally safe for the mission, the Doolittle
Tokyo Raiders deliberately accepted the risk that the B-25s
might not have enough fuel to reach the designated air-fields
in China on return;
(6) the additional launch distance greatly increased the
risk of crash landing in Japanese occupied China, exposing the
crews to higher probability of death, injury, or capture;
(7) because of that deliberate choice, after bombing their
targets in Japan, low on fuel and in setting night and
deteriorating weather, none of the 16 airplanes reached the
prearranged Chinese airfields;
(8) of the 80 Doolittle Tokyo Raiders who launched on the
raid, 8 were captured, 2 died in the crash, and 70 returned to
the United States;
(9) of the 8 captured Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, 3 were
executed and 1 died of disease; and
(10) there were only 5 surviving members of the Doolittle
Tokyo Raiders as of February 2013.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award.--
(1) Authorized.--The President pro tempore of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make
appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress,
of 6 gold medals of appropriate design in honor of the World
War II members of the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) who
became known as the ``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'', in recognition
of their military service during World War II.
(2) Design and striking.--For the purposes of the award
referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Treasury
shall strike the gold medals with suitable emblems, devices,
and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(3) Smithsonian institution.--
(A) In general.--Following the award of the gold
medal referred to in paragraph (1) in honor of the
World War II members of the 17th Bombardment Group
(Medium), who became known as the ``Doolittle Tokyo
Raiders'', the gold medals shall be given to the 5
surviving members of the mission, with a sixth medal to
be given to the National Museum of the United States
Air Force, where it shall be displayed with the
Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Goblets, as appropriate, and
made available for research.
(B) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress
that the National Museum of the United States Air Force
should make the gold medal received under this
paragraph available for display elsewhere, particularly
at other locations and events associated with the
Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.
(b) 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 this Act, at a price sufficient to cover
the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dyes, use of
machinery, and overhead expenses.
(c) National Medals.--Medals struck pursuant to this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States
Code.
SEC. 3. 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 medals
authorized under section 2.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals under section 2(b) shall be deposited in the United
States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1146-1147)
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8289-8290)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S8289-8290)
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8289-8290)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Held at the desk.
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