|
119th CONGRESS
2d Session |
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (commonly referred to as “SEAL Team Six”), in recognition of their critical role in defeating Osama bin Laden in the fight against terrorism.
Mr. Kean (for himself, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Mr. Keating, and Mr. Lawler) 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
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (commonly referred to as “SEAL Team Six”), in recognition of their critical role in defeating Osama bin Laden in the fight against terrorism.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “SEAL Team Six Congressional Gold Medal Act”.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four U.S. planes, with two crashing into the Twin Towers, one into the Pentagon, and one in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, which was believed to be targeting the United States Capitol. Along with thousands of injuries, the official death toll was 2,977 people.
(2) Immediately following the attacks, President George W. Bush launched the Global War on Terror, and the FBI’s top priority became the prevention of future terrorist strikes.
(3) The perpetrators of 9/11 were part of a terrorist organization named al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden. On October 10, 2001, bin Laden was added to the newly launched Most Wanted Terrorist List, claiming responsibility for the attacks in 2004.
(4) In 2011, SEAL Team Six carried out a surgical raid on the compound where Osama bin Laden was in hiding, a mission dubbed Operation Neptune Spear.
(5) Two stealth Black Hawk helicopters took off from Afghanistan on May 1, 2011, to fly to the compound in Abbottabad, carrying a group of 23 Navy SEALs, an interpreter, and a combat dog. When the door opened, the SEALs breached the building, met with resistance, but completed their mission. Bullet shrapnel from the firefight lodged in the handle of a pair of bolt cutters carried by one of the SEALs, but no casualties or injuries were sustained by the SEALs.
(6) The sheer bravery of SEAL Team Six was exemplified in the success of this mission, and their actions were pivotal for the safety and security of the United States.
(7) Osama bin Laden’s defeat marked a significant victory in the U.S.-led effort to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaeda. For the families of 9/11 victims, bin Laden’s defeat gave a sense of justice.
(8) Due to SEAL Team Six’s success, critical intelligence about bin Laden and al-Qaeda was collected, allowing the United States to further the campaign against terrorism.
(9) The United States is indebted to SEAL Team Six, and to express this gratitude, these service members will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for the service they performed for our country.
SEC. 3. 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 Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to the members of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (commonly referred to as “SEAL Team Six”), in recognition of their critical role in defeating Osama bin Laden in the fight against terrorism.
(b) Design and striking.—For the purposes of the award 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) National Museum of American History.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the gold medal under subsection (a), the medal shall be given to the National Museum of American History of 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 National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with SEAL Team Six.
(a) In general.—The Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
(b) Medals provided to members of SEAL Team Six.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall give a bronze medal described in subsection (a) to each member of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group and related staff who participated in defeating Osama bin Laden, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.
(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.