I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6443 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 18, 2010 Mr. Rohrabacher (for himself, Mr. Owens, and Mr. Lee of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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 provide for the design, production, and presentation of a Gold Medal of Remembrance to the children of members of the Armed Forces who die while serving on active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Gold Medal of Remembrance for the Sons and Daughters of Our Fallen Act of 2010.
2.
Department of Defense recognition of children of members of the Armed Forces who die while serving on active duty in certain military operations
(a)
Establishment and presentation of medal
Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1126 the following new section:
1126a.
Gold Medal of Remembrance: eligibility and presentation
(a)
Eligibility and presentation
A medal, to be known as the Gold Medal of Remembrance, shall be presented to a child of a member of the armed forces, regardless of the age of the child, to identify and recognize the child when the member— (1)dies while serving on active duty in support of a covered military operation; or (2)dies as a result of wounds, injuries, or illness incurred while serving on active duty in support of a covered military operation. (b)
Design and manufacture
The Gold Medal of Remembrance shall be composed of gold-plate over bronze and shall be of such design and specifications as the Secretary concerned may determine. The Gold Medal of Remembrance is a national medal for purposes of section 5111 of title 31. (c)
Use of appropriated funds
The Secretary concerned may authorize the use of appropriated funds to procure Gold Medals of Remembrance and to provide for their presentation to children of members of the armed forces described in subsection (a). (d)
Relation to other presentations
The child of a member of the armed forces described in subsection (a) may receive a Gold Medal of Remembrance in addition to a Gold star lapel button under section 1126 of this title and a medal presented by the White House Commission on Remembrance. (e)
Presentation ceremonies
It is the sense of Congress that, to the extent practicable, Gold Medals of Remembrance, should be presented to children of members of the armed forces described in subsection (a) by military commanders in ceremonies recognizing the support and sacrifice of children of members of the armed forces. (f)
Definitions
In this section: (1)The term child, with respect to a member of the armed forces described in subsection (a), means— (A)a legitimate child; (B)an adopted child; (C)a stepchild; and (D)a person who was placed in the home of the member by a placement agency (recognized by the Secretary of Defense), or by any other source authorized by State or local law to provide adoption placement, in anticipation of the legal adoption of the person by the member. (2)The term covered military operation means— (A)Operation Enduring Freedom; (B)Operation Iraqi Freedom; or (C)Operation New Dawn. (g)
Regulations
The Secretary of Defense shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section. The Secretary shall ensure that the regulations are uniform for each armed force to the extent practicable.
. (b)
Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1126 the following new item: 1126a. Gold Medal of Remembrance: eligibility and presentation. . (c)
Retroactive application
Section 1126a of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to deaths of members of the Armed Forces described in such section occurring any time after September 11, 2001.