This act directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, four Americans killed in the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. (Stevens was the U.S. Ambassador to Libya at the time, Smith was an officer in the Foreign Service, and Doherty and Woods were both government contractors and former Navy SEALs.)
After the medal has been awarded, it shall be given to the Central Intelligence Agency Museum.
[117th Congress Public Law 256]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 2367]]
[[Page 136 STAT. 2368]]
Public Law 117-256
117th Congress
An Act
To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to
Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in
recognition of their contributions to the Nation. <<NOTE: Dec. 21,
2022 - [H.R. 310]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: 31 USC 5111
note.>>
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On September 11, 2012, the United States consulate, and
its personnel in Benghazi, Libya, were attacked by militants.
(2) Four Americans were killed in the attack, including
Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and
Tyrone Woods.
(3) Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were former Navy SEALs who
served as security personnel in Libya. As the attack unfolded,
they bravely attempted to defend American property and protect
United States diplomatic personnel. In so doing, they selflessly
sacrificed their own lives.
(4) Glen Doherty was a Navy SEAL for 12 years and served in
Iraq and Afghanistan. He attained the rank of Petty Officer
First Class and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation
Medal. After leaving the Navy, Glen Doherty worked with the
Department of State to protect American diplomats.
(5) Tyrone Woods served for 20 years as a Navy SEAL
including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq he led multiple
raids and reconnaissance missions and earned the Bronze Star.
After retiring from the Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer,
Tyrone Woods worked with the Department of State to protect
American diplomats.
(6) J. Christopher Stevens served for 21 years in the U.S.
Foreign Service. He was serving as U.S. Ambassador to Libya and
previously served twice in the country, as both Special
Representative to the Libyan Transitional National Council and
as the Deputy Chief of Mission. Earlier in his life, he also
served as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Morocco.
(7) Sean Smith served for 6 years in the U.S. Air Force. He
attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was awarded the Air
Force Commendation Medal. After leaving the Air Force, Sean
Smith served for 10 years in the State Department on various
assignments, which took him to places such as Baghdad, Brussels,
Pretoria, and The Hague.
[[Page 136 STAT. 2369]]
(8) As their careers attest, all four men served their
country honorably.
SEC. 2. 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 posthumous award, on behalf of the Congress, of a
single gold medal of appropriate design collectively in commemoration of
Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in
recognition of their contributions to the Nation.
(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. The Secretary is authorized to create designs for the medal
that, if the Secretary deems it appropriate, include images of, and
inscriptions of the names of, Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher
Stevens, and Sean Smith.
(c) Central Intelligence Agency Museum.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal under
subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the Central
Intelligence Agency Museum, where it shall be displayed as
appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Central Intelligence Agency Museum should make the gold medal
received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere,
particularly at other appropriate locations associated with Glen
Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 2, at a price sufficient to cover the
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 4. 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.
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
under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
SEC. 6. 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
[[Page 136 STAT. 2370]]
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 21, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 310:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
July 26, considered and passed House.
Dec. 8, considered and passed Senate.
<all>
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Ms. Waters moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7129-7131)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 310.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7129)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7129)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Enacted as Public Law 117-256
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Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7083)
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7083)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 117-256.
Became Public Law No: 117-256.