S567-119

What This Bill Does

The First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act awards a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment for its dedicated service during the Revolutionary War. Congress makes findings about the regiment's recruitment of men of African heritage and Indigenous descent, its role at the Battle of Rhode Island, its continued service through the end of the war, and the later struggles of some veterans against re-enslavement and for back wages. The Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate must arrange the medal award. The Secretary of the Treasury must strike the gold medal with appropriate emblems, devices, and inscriptions. After the award, the medal goes to the Rhode Island State Library for display and research. The bill also lets the Secretary strike and sell duplicate bronze medals at a price that covers labor, materials, dies, machinery, overhead, and other costs. The medals are national medals and numismatic items under title 31, and the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund pays the production costs and receives duplicate-medal sale proceeds.

Who Benefits and How

The First Rhode Island Regiment's historical legacy benefits because the bill gives Congress's highest civilian commemorative medal to the unit collectively. Descendants, Rhode Island communities, researchers, students, and public historians benefit from a federally recognized medal that will be held by the Rhode Island State Library and made available for research and display. The Rhode Island State Library benefits because it receives custody of the medal and can use it for public display and research access. Collectors and members of the public who want a bronze version benefit from authorized duplicate medal sales.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Secretary of the Treasury and the United States Mint bear the main administrative burden because they must design, strike, and account for the gold medal and any duplicate bronze medals. Congressional leadership offices bear a limited administrative burden because they must make arrangements for the award ceremony. The United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund bears production costs for the medals, but the fund also receives proceeds from duplicate bronze medal sales.

Key Provisions

• Provides one Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment collectively for Revolutionary War service.
• Directs the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange the award and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal.
• Provides that the gold medal goes to the Rhode Island State Library for display and research and should be available for display at other locations associated with the regiment.
• Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell duplicate bronze medals at prices sufficient to cover production costs.
• Uses title 31 national-medal and numismatic-item status and routes production costs and sale proceeds through the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.