Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act authorizes a posthumous congressional gold medal honoring Constance Baker Motley's civil-rights and public-service career. The findings recount her work as an NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund attorney, participation in Brown v. Board of Education, Supreme Court civil-rights litigation, representation of James Meredith, service in the New York State Senate and as Manhattan borough president, and appointment as the first African-American woman federal judge. The President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House may arrange the award on behalf of Congress. The Treasury Secretary must strike a gold medal with emblems, devices, and inscriptions that include Motley's image and name. The medal is presented to Joel Motley III and Constance Royster and then given to Joel Motley III. Costs of the medals are charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, and proceeds from duplicate bronze medal sales are deposited back into that fund.
Who Benefits and How
Constance Baker Motley family members benefit from the posthumous congressional recognition and presentation of the gold medal. Civil rights educators benefit from a federal commemoration that highlights Motley's litigation, judicial service, and public office. NAACP Legal Defense Fund historians benefit from congressional recognition of Motley's desegregation work. United States Mint staff benefit from authority to strike commemorative medals and sell duplicate bronze medals.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Treasury Department mint officials must design and strike the gold medal with Motley's image and name. United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund bears the medal production costs until offset by duplicate bronze medal proceeds. House and Senate leadership offices must arrange the posthumous award presentation. Federal taxpayers indirectly bear any net costs not offset by duplicate bronze medal sales.
Key Provisions
- Authorizes a congressional gold medal honoring Constance Baker Motley.
- Requires the Treasury Secretary to strike a medal with Motley's image and name.
- Provides for presentation to Joel Motley III and Constance Royster, with the medal then given to Joel Motley III.
- Charges medal costs to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
- Deposits proceeds from duplicate bronze medal sales into the Mint fund.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Authorizes a posthumous congressional gold medal for civil-rights lawyer and federal judge Constance Baker Motley, directs Treasury to strike the medal for presentation to Joel Motley III and Constance Royster, and charges medal costs to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Key Policy Areas
Civil Rights, Commemoration, United States Mint
Primary Purpose
Authorizes a posthumous congressional gold medal for civil-rights lawyer and federal judge Constance Baker Motley, directs Treasury to strike the medal for presentation to Joel Motley III and Constance Royster, and charges medal costs to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Constance Baker Motley family members
- Civil rights educators
- NAACP Legal Defense Fund historians
- United States Mint staff
Identified Costs
- Treasury Department mint officials
- United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund
- House leadership offices
- Federal taxpayers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMs. DeLauro (for herself, Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Green of Texas, …
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Treasury Department mint officials, United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, United States Mint staff
Positive-direction: United States Mint staff
Negative-direction: Treasury Department mint officials, United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology