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Medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes of title 31, chapter 51.
For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and award a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the Buffalo Soldier regiments for their long and distinguished service, and directs that the original gold medal be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for display and research. Authorizes the United States Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates at cost to recover production expenses, treats the medals as official national numismatic items, and charges manufacturing costs to the Mint’s Public Enterprise Fund with sale proceeds deposited back into that Fund.
Congress passed an Act approved July 28, 1866, that authorized the creation of six all-Black cavalry and infantry regiments; these regiments remained active until the Army was desegregated in 1951.
According to legend, American Indians called the Black cavalry troops 'Buffalo Soldiers' because their dark, curly hair resembled a buffalo’s coat.
The African-American troops accepted the name 'Buffalo Soldiers' with pride and honor because they associated the buffalo with fierce bravery and fighting spirit.
The original six regiments later were reorganized into four regiments.
The 9th Cavalry Regiment assembled in New Orleans, Louisiana, in August and September of 1866 and was ordered to San Antonio, Texas, in April 1867 with a mission to maintain order and secure the road from San Antonio to El Paso.
Primary effects are symbolic, educational, and institutional rather than regulatory or financial for the general public. Buffalo Soldier descendants, veterans, and the African American community receive formal national recognition and a visible artifact for public commemoration. The National Museum of African American History and Culture gains custody of the gold medal for display and research, increasing public access and scholarship opportunities. The U.S. Mint and its Public Enterprise Fund will incur production costs for the medal; those costs may be offset by sales of bronze duplicates, which the Mint is authorized to price only to cover production and selling expenses. Collectors and members of the public may purchase duplicate bronze medals. The legislation does not create new entitlements, large appropriations, or regulatory burdens on states or private parties.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Introduced July 28, 2025 by Andy Kim · Last progress July 28, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Introduced in Senate