110 HR 5315 IH: To grant the Congressional Gold Medal to a group of U.S. House of Representatives 2008-02-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5315 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 7, 2008 Mr. Udall of New Mexico 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 grant the Congressional Gold Medal to a group of soldiers from World War II.

1.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)In April 1942, nearly 12,000 American soldiers and 67,000 Filipino soldiers based at Bataan, Philippines, bravely and staunchly fought off enemy attacks for more than 4 months while under strenuous conditions that resulted in starvation and disease. (2)By maintaining their position and engaging the enemy for as long as they did, the soldiers at Bataan were able to redefine the momentum of the war and provide other United States and Allied forces throughout the Pacific with time to plan and prepare for subsequent, crucial battles. (3)On April 9, 1942, Maj. General Edward King surrendered these troops into enemy hands. (4)Over the next week, these prisoners were forced to march 65 miles without any food, water or medical care in what came to be know as the Bataan Death March. (5)During this forced march, thousands of soldiers died, either from starvation, lack of medical care, sheer exhaustion, or from abuse by their captors. (6)Within the first 40 days at Camp O’Donnell, 1,600 more American prisoners died. (7)The conditions at the camp were substandard, leading to increased disease and malnutrition among the prisoners. (8)On June 6, 1942, the American prisoners were transferred to Cabanatuan, north of Camp O’Donnell. In July, all Filipino prisoners were paroled. (9)These prisoners suffered from continued mistreatment, malnutrition, lack of medical care, and horrific conditions. (10)The prisoners who remained in these camps were liberated in 1945 and returned home. (11)Over the subsequent decades, these prisoners formed support groups, were honored in local and State memorials, and told their story to all Americans. (12)Many of these soldiers have now passed away, and those who remain continue to tell their story. (13)The United States is forever indebted to these men for the courage they demonstrated during the first 4 months of World War II in fighting against enemy soldiers, and for the perseverance they sustained during 3 years of capture, imprisonment, and atrocious conditions while maintaining dignity, honor, patriotism, and loyalty.

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 award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of American soldiers who were prisoners of war at Bataan, collectively, in recognition of their personal sacrifice and service to their country. (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. (c)

Smithsonian Institution

(1)

In General

Following the award of the gold medal in honor of the prisoners of war at Bataan under 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

It is the sense of the Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the prisoners of war at Bataan.

3.

DUPLICATE MEDALS

Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 2, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.

4.

NATIONAL MEDALS

Medals struck pursuant to this Act are National medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

5.

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROCEEDS OF SALE

(a)

Authorization of Appropriations

There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, an amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medals authorized under section 2. (b)

Proceeds of Sale

Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.