Sponsors (7)
The bill provides meaningful symbolic recognition and stronger public visibility for African American Civil War service at minimal direct federal outlay, while remaining primarily symbolic and carrying modest administrative and fiscal risks plus possible limits on affordable public access.
African American Civil War servicemembers and their descendants receive formal congressional recognition through findings and a Congressional Gold Medal, publicly honoring their service and role in emancipation.
The medal will be displayed and curated (including placement at the Smithsonian), improving public education, scholarship, and historical memory about the United States Colored Troops and Black service in the Civil War.
Members of the public and collectors gain access to the commemoration through officially authorized bronze replicas and numismatic classification, expanding opportunities for public engagement and institutional display.
Descendants and African American communities receive only symbolic recognition—there is no financial compensation or direct material benefit, which may raise expectations for further (costly) measures.
The program creates minor administrative burdens and fiscal risk for Congress, the Treasury, the Smithsonian, and the Mint (arranging/striking/curating medals; managing sales), and could divert Mint resources or require transfers if revenues or cost estimates are wrong.
Statutory pricing limited to cost recovery leaves little margin for overhead or contingencies and prevents proceeds from funding related commemorative or educational programs, potentially prompting future funding requests.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Awards a collective Congressional Gold Medal to African Americans who served with Union forces in the Civil War, directs minting and donation to the Smithsonian, and allows sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs.
Introduced February 6, 2025 by Eleanor Holmes Norton · Last progress February 6, 2025
Creates and awards a collective, posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to African Americans who served with Union forces during the Civil War, directs the Treasury to strike a gold medal, and requires that the medal be donated to the Smithsonian for display and research. Authorizes the minting and sale of bronze duplicate medals to recover production costs, treats the medals as national numismatic items under federal law, and allows the U.S. Mint to charge its Public Enterprise Fund for striking costs with proceeds from sales deposited back into that fund.