[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 178 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SHIRLEY CHISHOLM CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from 
further consideration of S. 4243 and the Senate proceed to its 
immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 4243) to award posthumously the Congressional 
     Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the Butler amendment, which 
is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; and that the bill, as 
amended, be considered read a third time.
  The amendment (No. 3308) was agreed to.
  (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of 
Amendments.'')
  The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading 
and was read the third time.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the bill, as 
amended?
  Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question 
is, Shall the bill, as amended, pass?
  The bill (S. 4243), as amended, was passed, as follows:

                                S. 4243

       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.

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