HR6559-119

What This Bill Does

The Thiokol Memorial Gold Medal Act recognizes the 30 workers killed in the 1971 and 1973 explosions at the Thiokol plant in Woodbine, Georgia, where civilian contractors manufactured munitions and related defense materials during the Vietnam War era. The findings name the workers, describe the 1971 trip-flare manufacturing explosion that killed 29 people and injured more than 50, the later death of another worker, the role of many African American women in the workforce, the emergency response by military and civilian responders, and the disaster aftermath for workplace safety, emergency medical services, transportation, and mass tort practices. The bill directs the Speaker and Senate President pro tempore to arrange a single Congressional Gold Medal honoring the fallen patriots of Thiokol. Treasury must strike the medal with designs chosen by the Secretary, and the medal must go to the Thiokol Memorial Museum for display and research. Treasury may strike and sell bronze duplicates at prices covering labor, materials, dies, machinery, and overhead. Medal costs may be charged to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, and duplicate-sale proceeds return to that fund.

Who Benefits and How

Families of the Thiokol workers benefit from national recognition of their relatives sacrifice and defense-related civilian work. The Thiokol Memorial Museum benefits by receiving the gold medal for display and research. Camden County communities benefit from federal recognition of a disaster central to local history. Medal collectors benefit from the availability of bronze duplicates. The United States Mint benefits because duplicate sales can reimburse the Public Enterprise Fund.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Speaker, Senate President pro tempore, Treasury Secretary, and United States Mint staff must arrange the award, design and strike the medal, manage bronze duplicate production, set prices to cover costs, and account for proceeds. The United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund must front production and administrative costs until duplicate-sale proceeds are deposited. Museum staff must preserve the medal and make it available for display and research.

Key Provisions

• Recognizes findings about the Thiokol plant explosions, 30 fallen workers, emergency response, and workplace-safety legacy.
• Directs congressional leaders to arrange a single Congressional Gold Medal for the fallen patriots of Thiokol.
• Requires Treasury to strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions.
• Provides the gold medal to the Thiokol Memorial Museum for display and research.
• Authorizes bronze duplicate medals sold at prices covering production and overhead costs.
• Authorizes use of the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund for medal costs and deposits duplicate-sale proceeds back into the fund.