[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4243 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.4243
One Hundred Eighteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and twenty four
An Act
To award posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm.
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 ``Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold
Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(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 3 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 New York's 12th Congressional District in
the 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) A historic figure in American political history, Shirley
Chisholm died at the age of 80 in Ormond Beach, Florida, on New
Year's Day 2005.
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 posthumous presentation, on behalf of
the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration of
Shirley Chisholm.
(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.
The design shall bear an image of, and an inscription of the name of,
Shirley Chisholm.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--After 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
paragraph (1) for display elsewhere, particularly at other
locations and events associated with Shirley Chisholm.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the
costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of
machinery, and overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--Medals struck under this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.