Sponsors (23)
The bill provides formal, public recognition of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and preserves public access to the commemorative medal while remaining symbolic (no new benefits) and imposing modest costs and administrative responsibilities on the Mint and taxpayers.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (≈250,000) receive formal national recognition via a Congressional Gold Medal, reaffirming the Peace Corps mission and raising public awareness of Volunteers' diplomatic and service contributions.
Students, researchers, nonprofits, and the public can view the medal at Peace Corps headquarters and purchase bronze duplicates, preserving Volunteer history and promoting public engagement with that history.
Medal production is financed through the U.S. Mint’s Public Enterprise Fund and sales of duplicate medals are authorized to recover costs, avoiding the need for new annual appropriations.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and advocates receive symbolic recognition only; the bill creates no new benefits, services, or funding for Volunteers.
Taxpayers and the Mint bear ceremony, production, and administrative expenses and could indirectly cover net costs if sales of duplicate medals fall short, risking reductions in the Mint’s fund available for other operations.
Federal staff (Peace Corps, Mint) face additional administrative burdens—setting prices, managing sales and records—without dedicated new staffing or appropriations.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal honoring Peace Corps volunteers (service Aug 28, 1961–Dec 31, 2026), directs its display, permits sale of bronze duplicates, and treats medals as numismatic items.
Introduced September 19, 2025 by Betty McCollum · Last progress September 19, 2025
Authorizes a single Congressional Gold Medal to honor Peace Corps volunteers who served between August 28, 1961 and December 31, 2026, directs the medal be presented to the Director of the Peace Corps and placed on display at Peace Corps headquarters, and encourages additional display at Peace Corps‑affiliated sites. It also lets the U.S. Mint produce and sell bronze duplicate medals to recover costs and treats the medals as numismatic items for statutory purposes. The measure is primarily commemorative and declarative: it records historical findings about the Peace Corps, creates and directs handling of the gold medal, authorizes sale of bronze duplicates at cost-recovery prices, and allows the Mint to charge its Public Enterprise Fund for production costs. It does not create new programs, change tax law, or require new appropriations beyond routine Mint accounting and cost recovery mechanisms.