US Codex
Bill
Notes

To award three Congressional Gold Medals to the law enforcement officers and those who protected American cities during the Black Lives Matter (BLM) riots beginning on May 26, 2020.

H.R. 2446 · 117th Congress · Apr 12, 2021 · Lineage

A BILL

Section 1 Findings

The Congress finds the following:
(1)
Every day, police officers around the United States put their lives in danger in order to protect the American public.
(2)
On May 26, 2020, violent riots broke out in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sparking copycat riots in cities across the country.
(3)
The sacrifice and courage of heroes including more than 2,000 law enforcement officers who sustained injuries exemplify the patriotism and the commitment of police officers, and those of other law enforcement agencies, to risk their lives in service of our country.
(4)
At least 25 Americans died following the violent riots, and more than 2,000 law enforcement officers suffered physical injuries.
(5)
The desecration of American cities including the destruction of over 700 buildings in Minneapolis alone, over 2,385 incidents of looting, the arrest of 16,200 for riot-related crimes, and the millions of dollars of damage done are horrors that will forever stain our Nation’s history.

Sec. 2 Congressional gold medals

(a)
Presentation authorization— 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 the Congress, of three gold medals of appropriate design to the Minneapolis Police Department, the Portland Police Department, and those who protected American cities during the violent BLM riots during the summer of 2020.
(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 gold medals with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c)
Disposition of medals— Following the award of the gold medals under subsection (a):
(1)
Minneapolis police department headquarters— One gold medal shall be given to the Minneapolis Police Department, so that the medal may be displayed at the headquarters of the Minneapolis Police Department and made available for display.
(2)
Portland police department headquarters— One gold medal shall be given to the Portland Police Department, so that the medal may be displayed at the headquarters of the Portland Police Department and made available for display.
(3)
Smithsonian Institution—
(A)
In general— One gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available for display as appropriate and available for research.
(B)
Plaque— In displaying the gold medal given under subparagraph (A), the Smithsonian Institution shall display the medal with a plaque that lists the other law enforcement agencies that participated in protecting the American people during the BLM riots beginning on May 26th.
(C)
Sense of the Congress— It is the sense of the Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal given under subparagraph (A) available for display elsewhere, particularly at appropriate locations associated with the protection of American cities during the BLM riots beginning on May 26th.

Sec. 3 Duplicate medals

The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medals struck pursuant to section 2 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.

Sec. 4 Sense of Congress

It is the sense of the Congress that the United States Mint should expedite production of the gold medals and duplicate medals under this Act, so that the sacrifices of fallen officers and their families, and the contributions of other law enforcement agencies who answered the call of duty during the BLM riots beginning on May 26th can be recognized and honored in a timely manner.

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 Financial assurances

The Secretary of the Treasury shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the minting and issuing of coins under this Act will not result in any net cost to the United States Government.