Sponsors (48)
The bill honors James Earl Jones and lets the Mint sell duplicate medals to offset costs and clarify administration, trading broader public display/access and some Mint fund flexibility for private ownership opportunities and modest administrative and fiscal risks.
General public: Officially recognizes James Earl Jones with a Congressional Gold Medal, raising national awareness of his cultural contributions and celebrating American performing arts.
Taxpayers and the Treasury: The Mint and Treasury can recover medal production costs through sales and charging the Mint Public Enterprise Fund, reducing net direct taxpayer outlays for medal fabrication.
Theatre institutions, schools, and nonprofits: Public recognition of James Earl Jones can increase attention to performing arts, potentially boosting audiences, donations, and educational interest in theatre.
General public and museums: Classifying the medals as numismatic items and selling duplicates could mean collectors get primary access, reducing free public availability and direct public display of the commemorative items.
Mint Public Enterprise Fund and taxpayers: Charging medal costs to the Mint's fund may reduce funds available for other Mint activities and could shift fiscal or operational burdens to that fund if sales fall short.
Taxpayers and federal administrators: There are modest administrative and production costs (staff time and Treasury resources) required to design, strike, and administer the medal program that fall on the government.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Creates a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for James Earl Jones, directs minting and presentation to his son, authorizes sale of bronze duplicates, and deposits proceeds into the Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Creates a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to honor actor James Earl Jones, directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a suitably designed gold medal and to present it to his son, Flynn Earl Jones, and allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates to cover production costs. Costs for striking the medals may be charged to the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund, and proceeds from bronze sales must be deposited into that Fund.
Introduced March 6, 2025 by Michael Lawler · Last progress March 6, 2025