HR3830-119

What This Bill Does

The American Patriots of WWII through Service with the Canadian and British Armed Forces Gold Medal Act recognizes Americans who served with Allied forces before or during U.S. entry into World War II. The findings describe U.S. citizens who crossed into Canada or joined through British and Canadian recruiting offices, including many who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, to fight Nazi and Fascist aggression. The President pro tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House must arrange for a single Congressional Gold Medal, on behalf of Congress, to all U.S. nationals who voluntarily joined the Canadian and British Armed Forces and supporting entities during World War II. Treasury must strike the medal with designs chosen by the Secretary. After award, the medal goes to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with a sense of Congress that it should be made available for display elsewhere. Treasury may strike and sell bronze duplicates at prices covering labor, materials, dies, machinery, and overhead. The medals are national medals under title 31 and numismatic items for sales authority.

Who Benefits and How

American volunteers who served with Canadian and British forces benefit from formal congressional recognition. Families of World War II volunteers benefit from a national medal honoring relatives' Allied service. The Smithsonian Institution benefits from receiving the medal for display and research. Collectors and history educators benefit from bronze duplicate medals and public displays.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Treasury medal staff must design, strike, and potentially sell bronze duplicates of the medal. Congressional leadership must arrange the award ceremony and medal presentation. Smithsonian curators must preserve, display, and make the medal available for research. Federal administrative staff must handle national medal and numismatic item treatment.

Key Provisions

• Awards a Congressional Gold Medal to U.S. nationals who joined Canadian and British Armed Forces during World War II.
• Requires Treasury to strike the medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions.
• Provides the medal to the Smithsonian for display and research.
• Authorizes Treasury to sell bronze duplicates at cost.
• Designates the medals as national medals and numismatic items.