[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4867 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4867
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to General James N. Mattis, in
recognition of his distinguished military career, his steadfast moral
character and patriotism, and his unyielding devotion to the protection
of this Nation.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 28, 2019
Mr. Newhouse (for himself, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Larsen of
Washington, Mrs. Rodgers of Washington, Ms. Herrera Beutler, Ms.
DelBene, Mr. Heck, Mr. Kilmer, Ms. Jayapal, and Ms. Schrier) 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 award a Congressional Gold Medal to General James N. Mattis, in
recognition of his distinguished military career, his steadfast moral
character and patriotism, and his unyielding devotion to the protection
of this Nation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``General James N. Mattis
Congressional Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) James N. Mattis was born in Pullman, Washington, on
September 8, 1950.
(2) James N. Mattis graduated from Columbia High School in
1968 and began his military career the following year,
enlisting in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
(3) In 1971, James N. Mattis earned a Bachelor of Arts in
history from Central Washington State College. He earned a
Master of Arts in international security affairs from National
Defense University's National War College in 1994.
(4) On January 1, 1972, James N. Mattis was commissioned as
a second lieutenant through the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders
Course. As a lieutenant, he commanded infantry platoons and, as
a captain, commanded both rifle and weapons companies in the
1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii. Promoted to major, he served as
battalion officer at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in
Newport, Rhode Island, and commanded Recruiting Station
Portland, Oregon.
(5) During the Gulf War, James N. Mattis served as
lieutenant colonel and commanded the 1st Battalion, 7th
Marines. Promoted to colonel, he commanded the 7th Marine
Regiment at Twentynine Palms, California, and served as the
Executive Secretary to the Department of Defense for
Secretaries William Perry and Bill Cohen.
(6) Following the September 11, 2001, attacks on America,
then-Brigadier General James N. Mattis led Task Force 58
through a series of operations in southern Afghanistan, making
him the first United States Marine Corps officer to command a
Naval Task Force.
(7) James N. Mattis, as major general, commanded the 1st
Marine Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He continued
in this role until 2004, when he was promoted to lieutenant
general and assumed command of the Marine Corps Combat
Development Command. The Pentagon announced on May 31, 2006,
that he was chosen to take command of the I Marine
Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp
Pendleton, and all Marines assigned to the United States
Central Command.
(8) James N. Mattis relinquished command of the I Marine
Expeditionary Force on November 5, 2007. Four days later, on
November 9, 2007, he was promoted to four-star general to
command United States Joint Forces Command (JFCOM),
concurrently serving as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander
Transformation (SACT). He transferred his role as SACT on
September 9, 2009, while continuing to command JFCOM.
(9) After a recommendation from Defense Secretary Robert
Gates, James N. Mattis was formally nominated as commander of
United States Central Command by President Barack Obama,
effective July 21, 2010.
(10) United States Central Command announced the
resignation of James N. Mattis on April 27, 2012, and his
retirement from the United States Marine Corps was finalized on
June 1, 2013.
(11) On December 1, 2016, President Donald Trump announced
that he would nominate James N. Mattis for United States
Secretary of Defense. He was confirmed by the United States
Senate on January 20, 2017, and served until December 31, 2018.
(12) James N. Mattis, prior to and since his retirement
from the United States Marine Corps, has been awarded many
awards and commendations, including--
(A) the Center for National Policy ``Edmund S.
Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award'' (2009);
(B) the Atlantic Council ``Distinguished Military
Leadership Award'' (2010);
(C) the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton
Roads ``Ryan C. Crocker Global Citizen of the Year''
Award (2013);
(D) the Marine Corps University Foundation ``Semper
Fidelis Award'' (2014);
(E) the Washington Policy Center ``Champion of
Freedom Award'' (2016);
(F) the ``Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished
Service Award'' (2019);
(G) the OSS Society ``William J. Donovan Award''
(2019); and
(H) the Washington Policy Center ``Columbia Award''
(2019).
(13) James N. Mattis is a native of Washington State and
devoted resident of the Pacific Northwest. He exemplifies a
deep love and commitment for his hometown of Richland,
Washington, and the greater Tri-Cities through his enthusiastic
involvement in the community and long-time volunteer service
with the Tri-Cities Food Bank.
(14) James N. Mattis is the published author of ``Call Sign
Chaos: Learning to Lead''.
(15) James N. Mattis demonstrates the American principles
of hard work, patriotism, and integrity. His distinguished
military and civilian service and his devotion to defending and
upholding the Constitution are an inspiration to all Americans.
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 presentation, on behalf of Congress,
of a gold medal of appropriate design to General James N. Mattis, in
recognition of his distinguished military career, his steadfast moral
character and patriotism, and his unyielding devotion to the protection
of this Nation.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the 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.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal
under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the
Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available for
display as appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Smithsonian Institution shall make the gold medal received
under paragraph (1) available for--
(A) display, particularly at the National Portrait
Gallery; and
(B) loan, as appropriate, so that the medal may be
displayed elsewhere.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 3 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.
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.
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