Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act

Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act

This act provides for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Shirley Chisholm, in recognition of her activism, independence, and groundbreaking achievements in politics, including election as the first African American woman in Congress.

The act provides that the gold medal shall be given to and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. 

The act also authorizes duplicate medals to be cast in bronze and made available for sale.

[118th Congress Public Law 150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 1681]]

              SHIRLEY CHISHOLM CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

[[Page 138 STAT. 1682]]

Public Law 118-150
118th Congress

                                 An Act


 
     To award posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley 
             Chisholm. <<NOTE: Dec. 12, 2024 -  [S. 4243]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Shirley Chisholm 
Congressional Gold Medal Act. 31 USC 5111 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold 
Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first African-
        American woman elected to Congress where she served until 1982.
            (2) Shirley Chisholm inspired and led the march of political 
        achievement by African Americans and women in the 3 decades 
        since she ran for the Presidency of the United States.
            (3) Her election to Congress and her candidacy for the 
        Presidency raised the profile and aspirations of all African 
        Americans and women in the field of politics.
            (4) Shirley Chisholm was recognized for her activism, 
        independence, and groundbreaking achievements in politics during 
        and after the civil rights era.
            (5) Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York, on 
        November 30, 1924, attended Brooklyn College, and earned a 
        master's degree from Columbia University.
            (6) Shirley Chisholm worked in education and social services 
        before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1964.
            (7) Shirley Chisholm established the Unity Democratic Club 
        in 1960, which played a significant role in rallying Black and 
        Hispanic voters in New York City.
            (8) In 1969, Shirley Chisholm began her service in the 91st 
        Congress, representing New York's 12th Congressional District in 
        the House of Representatives.
            (9) During her service in the House of Representatives, 
        Shirley Chisholm promoted the employment of women in Congress 
        and was vocal in her support of civil rights, women's rights, 
        and the poor, while fervently opposing the Vietnam War.
            (10) In 1972, Shirley Chisholm was the first African 
        American to seek the nomination of a major party for President 
        of the United States.

[[Page 138 STAT. 1683]]

            (11) A historic figure in American political history, 
        Shirley Chisholm died at the age of 80 in Ormond Beach, Florida, 
        on New Year's Day 2005.
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 posthumous presentation, on behalf of 
the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration of 
Shirley Chisholm.
    (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. 
The design shall bear an image of, and an inscription of the name of, 
Shirley Chisholm.
    (c) Smithsonian Institution.--
            (1) In general.--After the award of the gold medal referred 
        to in 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) for display elsewhere, particularly at other 
        locations and events associated with Shirley Chisholm.
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 
costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 
and overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.

    (a) National Medals.--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. 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.

[[Page 138 STAT. 1684]]

    (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.

    Approved December 12, 2024.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 4243:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
            Dec. 3, considered and passed Senate.
            Dec. 4, considered and passed House.

                                  <all>