761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion in recognition of their role in the success of Allied forces in Europe during World War II and for the example they set as the first Black soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit.
Following the award of the gold medal, the gold medal shall be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture where it shall be available for display and research.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1022 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1022
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion,
collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the success of
Allied forces in Europe and for the example they set as the first Black
soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2023
Mr. Palmer (for himself, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Burchett, Mr.
Carey, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Harris, Mr. Griffith, Mr. Carl, Mr. Edwards, and
Mr. Latta) 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 to the 761st Tank Battalion,
collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the success of
Allied forces in Europe and for the example they set as the first Black
soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit.
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 ``761st Tank Battalion Congressional
Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The 761st Tank Battalion, known as the ``Black
Panthers'', was activated on April 1, 1942, and served as the
first predominantly Black American armored battalion in the
European Theater of World War II until its deactivation on June
1, 1946, in Germany.
(2) Lieutenant Jackie Robinson, the first Black Major
League baseball player, was among the few Black officers in the
761st, but he was court martialed before seeing combat for an
act of civil disobedience in refusing to move to the back of a
bus.
(3) Despite resistance from many top-level American
politicians and military officers, the 761st served valiantly
under Lieutenant General George S. Patton.
(4) In his welcoming speech, Patton said, ``I would never
have asked for you if you weren't good. I have nothing but the
best in my Army. I don't care what color you are as long as you
go up there and kill those. . .''.
(5) After entering combat in late fall 1944, the 761st
lived up to their motto, ``Come Out Fighting'', enduring 183
days of combat without being pulled from the line.
(6) The 761st played a crucial role in numerous battles
including the Battle of the Bulge and helped break out the
encircled American paratroopers in the town of Bastogne.
(7) During their time in combat, the 761st inflicted
130,000 casualties on the Germans while enduring a casualty
rate of almost 50 percent with the loss of 71 tanks.
(8) As the spearhead for several of Patton's moves toward
Germany, they were the first American unit to break through the
Siegfried Line and they were one of the first American units to
link up with the Russian Army at the Enns River at Steyr,
Austria.
(9) Sadly, like other Black soldiers in World War II,
members of the 761st did not receive the recognition that was
due them upon returning home, and instead faced prejudice at
home after the war.
(10) The accomplishments of the 761st were largely
unrecognized until 1978 when, over three decades after the war,
the battalion finally received a Presidential Unit Citation.
(11) The citation acknowledges ``the extraordinary
gallantry, courage, professionalism, and high esprit de corps
displayed in the accomplishment of unusually difficult and
hazardous operations in the European Theater of Operations''.
(12) In addition to that citation, individual members of
the 761st had earned the following: 1 Medal of Honor, 11 Silver
Stars, and approximately 300 Purple Hearts.
(13) The United States is eternally grateful to the
soldiers of the 761st Tank Battalion for their crucial role in
the success of Allied forces in Europe and for helping ensure
freedom around the globe.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--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 to the 761st Tank Battalion,
collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the success of
Allied forces in Europe and for the example they set as the first Black
soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the presentation
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter
in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal
with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by
the Secretary.
(c) National Museum of African American History and Culture.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal
under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the
National Museum of African American History and Culture, where
the medal shall be available for display as appropriate and
available for research.
(2) Sense of the congress.--It is the sense of Congress
that the National Museum of African American History and
Culture should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1)
available for display elsewhere, particularly at appropriate
locations associated with the 761st Tank Battalion.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. 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. 6. 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.
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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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