117 HR 8535 IH: Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2022-07-27
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I
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8535
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 27, 2022
Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Ms. Waters, Mr. Jeffries, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. Norton, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Dean, Mr. Peters, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Deutch, Ms. Sánchez, Ms. Adams, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Gallego, Ms. Titus, Mr. Higgins of New York, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Wild, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Cicilline, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Ruiz, Ms. Underwood, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Payne, Mr. Trone, Mr. Takano, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Evans, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Casten, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Bass, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Foster, Mr. Torres of New York, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Cárdenas, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Rush, Mr. Carson, Mr. Pappas, Ms. DelBene, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Welch, Ms. Brown of Ohio, Ms. Omar, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mr. Costa, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. DeFazio, Miss Rice of New York, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Horsford, Mr. Jones, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Pingree, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. Green of Texas, Mrs. Bustos, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Ruppersberger, Ms. Bush, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Kildee, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Trahan, Mrs. Lee of Nevada, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Wexton, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Bera, Ms. Jacobs of California, Ms. Speier, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Bowman, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Mr. Grijalva, and Ms. Newman) 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 posthumously award a Congressional gold medal to Shirley Chisholm.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act”.
2.

Findings
The Congress finds as follows:
(1)
In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first African-American woman elected to Congress where she served until 1982.
(2)
Shirley Chisholm inspired and led the march of political achievement by African Americans and women in the three decades since she ran for the Presidency of the United States.
(3)
Her election to Congress and her candidacy for the Presidency raised the profile and aspirations of all African Americans and women in the field of politics.
(4)
Shirley Chisholm was recognized for her activism, independence, and groundbreaking achievements in politics during and after the civil rights era.
(5)
Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 30, 1924, attended Brooklyn College, and earned a Master's degree from Columbia University.
(6)
Shirley Chisholm worked in education and social services before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1964.
(7)
Shirley Chisholm established the Unity Democratic Club in 1960, which played a significant role in rallying Black and Hispanic voters in New York City.
(8)
In 1969, Shirley Chisholm began her service in the 91st Congress, representing Brooklyn's 12th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.
(9)
During her service in the House of Representatives, Shirley Chisholm promoted the employment of women in Congress and was vocal in her support of civil rights, women's rights, and the poor, while fervently opposing the Vietnam War.
(10)
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm was the first African American to seek the nomination of a major party for President of the United States.
(11)
Shirley Chisholm was a co-founder of the National Organization for Women.
(12)
An historic figure in American political history, Shirley Chisholm died at the age of 80 in Ormond Beach, Florida, on New Year’s Day 2005.
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 posthumous presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration of Shirley Chisholm, in recognition of her activism, independence, and groundbreaking achievements in politics, her election as the first African-American woman in the Congress, and her campaign to be the first African American to gain the nomination of a major political party for President of the United States.
(b)

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.
(c)

Smithsonian institution
(1)

In general
Following the award of the gold medal referred to in 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 of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received under this Act available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations and events associated with Shirley Chisholm.
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.
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.