[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1778-S1779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           AMERICAN FIGHTER ACES CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee be discharged from further 
consideration of S. 1827 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1827) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 
     American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of their 
     heroic military service and defense of our country's

[[Page S1779]]

     freedom throughout the history of aviation warfare.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill be read 
three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and 
laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1827) was ordered to a third reading, was read the third 
time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1827

       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 ``American Fighter Aces 
     Congressional Gold Medal Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) An American Fighter Ace is a fighter pilot who has 
     served honorably in a United States military service and who 
     has destroyed 5 or more confirmed enemy aircraft in aerial 
     combat during a war or conflict in which American armed 
     forces have participated.
       (2) Beginning with World War I, and the first use of 
     airplanes in warfare, military services have maintained 
     official records of individual aerial victory credits during 
     every major conflict. Of more than 60,000 United States 
     military fighter pilots that have taken to the air, less than 
     1,500 have become Fighter Aces.
       (3) Americans became Fighter Aces in the Spanish Civil War, 
     Sino-Japanese War, Russian Civil War, Arab-Israeli War, and 
     others. Additionally, American military groups' recruited 
     United States military pilots to form the American Volunteer 
     Group, Eagle Squadron, and others that produced American-born 
     Fighter Aces fighting against axis powers prior to Pearl 
     Harbor.
       (4) The concept of a Fighter Ace is that they fought for 
     freedom and democracy across the globe, flying in the face of 
     the enemy to defend freedom throughout the history of aerial 
     combat. American-born citizens became Fighter Aces flying 
     under the flag of United States allied countries and became 
     some of the highest scoring Fighter Aces of their respective 
     wars.
       (5) American Fighter Aces hail from every State in the 
     Union, representing numerous ethnic, religious, and cultural 
     backgrounds.
       (6) Fighter Aces possess unique skills that have made them 
     successful in aerial combat. These include courage, judgment, 
     keen marksmanship, concentration, drive, persistence, and 
     split-second thinking that makes an Ace a war fighter with 
     unique and valuable flight driven skills.
       (7) The Aces' training, bravery, skills, sacrifice, 
     attention to duty, and innovative spirit illustrate the most 
     celebrated traits of the United States military, including 
     service to country and the protection of freedom and 
     democracy.
       (8) American Fighter Aces have led distinguished careers in 
     the military, education, private enterprise, and politics. 
     Many have held the rank of General or Admiral and played 
     leadership roles in multiple war efforts from WWI to Vietnam 
     through many decades. In some cases they became the highest 
     ranking officers for following wars.
       (9) The extraordinary heroism of the American Fighter Ace 
     boosted American morale at home and encouraged many men and 
     women to enlist to fight for America and democracy across the 
     globe.
       (10) Fighter Aces were among America's most-prized military 
     fighters during wars. When they rotated back to the United 
     States after combat tours, they trained cadets in fighter 
     pilot tactics that they had learned over enemy skies. The 
     teaching of combat dogfighting to young aviators strengthened 
     our fighter pilots to become more successful in the skies. 
     The net effect of this was to shorten wars and save the lives 
     of young Americans.
       (11) Following military service, many Fighter Aces became 
     test pilots due to their superior flying skills and quick 
     thinking abilities.
       (12) The American Fighter Aces are one of the most 
     decorated military groups in American history. Twenty-two 
     Fighter Aces have achieved the rank of Admiral in the Navy. 
     Seventy-nine Fighter Aces have achieved the rank of General 
     in the Army, Marines, and Air Force. Nineteen Medals of Honor 
     have been awarded to individual Fighter Aces.

     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 the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design 
     to the American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of 
     their heroic military service and defense of our country's 
     freedom, which has spanned the history of aviation warfare.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award 
     referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury 
     (in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall strike 
     the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and 
     inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Award of Medal.--Following the award of the gold medal 
     in honor of the American Fighter Aces under subsection (a), 
     the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, 
     where it shall be available for display or temporary loan to 
     be displayed elsewhere, particularly at appropriate locations 
     associated with the American Fighter Aces, and that 
     preference should be given to locations affiliated with the 
     Smithsonian Institution.

     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 medal, including labor, 
     materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and 
     amounts received from the sale of such duplicates shall be 
     deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

     SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.

       (a) National Medals.--The 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.

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