1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman Congressional Gold Medal Act”.
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman Congressional Gold Medal Act
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, in recognition of his service to the United States and his courage to testify in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald J. Trump.
2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
On December 19, 2019, the House of Representatives passed two articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Numerous public servants provided testimony to support the impeachment inquiry, including Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a decorated veteran who was on the call between President Trump and Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky on July 25, 2019, which served as the basis for the impeachment inquiry.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman served multiple tours of combat duty and was wounded during a tour in Iraq, for which he received a Purple Heart medal.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman, despite threats to his family and his career, testified to the following on October 28, 2019:
The July 25th call was “improper” and “unusual”.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman was concerned by the call: “I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried about the implications for six of the U.S. Government’s support of Ukraine. I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained. This would all undermine U.S. national security.”.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman further stated: “Dad, I’m sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol talking to our elected professionals is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to the United States of America in search of a better life for our family.”, Vindman said: “Do not worry. I will be fine for telling the truth.”.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman faced unsubstantiated claims questioning his loyalty to the United States because he was born in Ukraine and other forms of retribution.
On February 7, 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman was reassigned from his duties as Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council. He was escorted from the White House by security.
President Trump stated on February 7, 2019: “Well, I’m not happy with him [Vindman]. You think I’m supposed to be happy with him? I’m not.” He further accused Lieutenant Colonel Vindman of being “insubordinate” for testifying against the President truthfully.
3. Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that Lieutenant Colonel Vindman—
is a patriot who defended American ideals on the battlefield and in the impeachment inquiry by telling the truth;
faced retribution from the President of the United States as a result of his testimony in the impeachment inquiry; and
upholds the highest values of the United States and should be honored for his actions.
4. Congressional gold medal
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 Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, in recognition of his service to the United States and his courage to testify in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald J. Trump.
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.
5. Duplicate medals
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 4 under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
6. Status of medals
National medals— The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
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.
7. 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 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.