Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

February 9, 2018 – July 18, 2024 R45101

Congressional Gold Medals: Background,
July 18, 2024
Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress
Jacob R. Straus
Senators and Representatives are frequently asked to support or sponsor proposals recognizing
Specialist on the Congress
historic events and outstanding achievements by individuals or institutions. Among the various

forms of recognition that Congress bestows, the Congressional Gold Medal is often considered
the most distinguished. Through this venerable tradition—the occasional commissioning of

individually struck gold medals in its name—Congress has expressed public gratitude on behalf
of the nation for distinguished contributions for more than two centuries. Since 1776, this award, which initially was
bestowed on military leaders, has also been given to such diverse individuals as Sir Winston Churchill and Bob Hope,
George Washington and Robert Frost, Joe Louis and Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Congressional gold medal legislation generally has a specific format. Once a gold medal is authorized, it follows a specified
process for design, minting, and presentation. This process includes consultation and recommendations by the Citizens
Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), pursuant to any statutory instructions,
before the Secretary of the Treasury makes the final decision on a gold medal’s design. Once the medal has been struck, a
ceremony will often be scheduled to formally award the medal to the recipient.
In recent years, the number of gold medals awarded has increased, and some have expressed interest in examining the gold
medal authorization and awarding process. Should Congress want to make such changes, several individual and institutional
options might be available. The individual options include decisions made by Members of Congress as to what individual or
groups might be honored; potential specification of gold medal design elements; and where gold medals for groups might be
housed once the award is made. The institutional options could include House, Senate, or committee rules for the
consideration of gold medal legislation and whether statutory standards on the number of gold medals issued per year or per
Congress might be established for gold medals.

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Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

Introduction
Since the late 1700s, Congress has expressed public gratitude to individuals and groups by
awarding medals and other similar decorations.1 The Continental Congress awarded the first
Congressional Gold Medals. Since that time, Congress has awarded gold medals to express public
gratitude for distinguished contributions, dramatize the virtues of patriotism, and perpetuate the
remembrance of great events. This tradition of authorizing individually struck gold medals
bearing the portraits or actions of honorees is rich with history.
Although Congress has approved legislation stipulating specific requirements for numerous other
awards and decorations, there are no permanent statutory provisions specifically relating to the
creation of Congressional Gold Medals. When Congress has determined that such an award is
appropriate, it has, by special action, provided for the creation of a personalized medal to be
given in the name of Congress.2
Early Practices
The Continental Congress authorized the first Congressional Gold Medals. As initially conceived,
Congressional Gold Medals were awards “imbued with the conviction that only the very highest
achievements [were] entitled to such a distinction, and that the value of a reward is enhanced by
its rarity!”3 At that time, the Continental Congress concluded there was no better way to honor
“and preserve the memory of illustrious characters and splendid events than medals—whether we
take into consideration the imperishable nature of the substance whence they are formed, the
facility of multiplying copies, or the practice of depositing them in the cabinets of the curious.”4
The first gold medals were struck in Paris under the direction of Colonel David Humphrey.5
Following a long-standing historical practice, Congress commissioned gold medals as tributes for
what it considered the most distinguished achievements. Silver and bronze medals, and
ceremonial swords, were awarded for less eminent, but still notable, accomplishments.6 Only the
gold medal has been continuously awarded to the present day.
The Continental Congress authorized the first Congressional Gold Medal on March 25, 1776, for
George Washington, then commander of the Continental Army, for his “wise and spirited

1 See “Decorations, Medals, and Badges,” in the general index of the United States Code: 2018 Edition (Washington:
GPO, 2019).
2 Other options for recognizing individuals and groups include naming post offices or federal office buildings,
establishing a commemorative period, minting commemorative coins, and creating memorials. For more information
on these recognitions, see CRS Report R43539, Commemorations in Congress: Options for Honoring Individuals,
Groups, and Events, coordinated by Jacob R. Straus.
3 J.F. Loubat, The Medallic History of the United States of America, 1776-1876, 2 vols. (New York: Printed by Author,
1878), vol. 1, p. viii.
4 David Humphrey to Matthew Carey (Printer of the American Museum), November 1787, in Labatt, The Medallic
History of the United States, vol. 1, p. xxiv.
5 Humphrey “succeeded in securing the cooperation of the Academe d’Insciptions et Belles-Lettres in Paris and this
learned institution nominated a committee of four among its members who worked very expeditiously in devising
designs and inscriptions” for the medals the Continental Congress had authorized. Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli and Elvira
Clain-Stefanelli, Medals Commemorating Battles of the American Revolution (Washington: The National Museum of
History and Technology, Smithsonian Institution, 1973), p. 1.
6 T. Bailey Meyers, “Our National Medals,” Magazine of American History, vol. 2, September 1878, pp. 529-532.
Altogether Congress authorized a total of 15 medals and 10 ceremonial swords during the Confederation period. Boyd,
The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 16, pp. 54-55.
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conduct” in bringing about British evacuation of Boston.7 During the next 12 years, the
Continental Congress authorized an additional six gold medals for Revolutionary military leaders.
Table 1 lists the Congressional Gold Medals issued by the Continental Congress, the year, the
awardee, and the reason the medal was authorized.
Table 1. Congressional Gold Medals Issued by the Continental Congress, 1776-1787
Year
Awardee
Reason
1776
General George Washington
“Wise and spirited conduct" in bringing about British evacuation
of Bostona
1777
Major General Horatio Gates
“Brave and successful efforts” in bringing about the surrender of
the British Army at Saratogab
1779
Major General Anthony Wayne
Courageous assault on the British at Stony Point, NYc
1779
Major Henry Lee
Skil and bravery exhibited against the British at Paulus Hook,
NJd
1781
Brigadier General Daniel Morgan
Gallant efforts in South Carolina during 1781e
1781
Major General Nathaniel Greene
Gal ant efforts in South Carolina during 1781f
1787
John Paul Jones
“Valor and bril iant services” in capturing the Serapis g
Source: CRS analysis of Congressional Gold Medal legislation.
Notes: For discussions of these medals, see Theodore T. Belote, “War Medals of the American Revolution,”
Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, vol. 55, September 1921, pp. 487-499; Boyd, The Papers of Thomas
Jefferson, vol. 16, pp. xxxv-xli, 53-66; Julian, Medals of the United States Mint, pp. 114-117, 120, 122, 149; Labatt,
The Medallic History of the United States, vol. 1, pp. 1-21, 29-36, 40-45, 50-56, 97-112; Martha L. Turner,
“Commemorative Medals of the American Revolution and the War of 1812,” Numismatist, vol. 88, January 1975,
pp. 6-15.
a. U.S. Continental Congress, Journals of the Continental Congress: 1774-1789, vol. 4, March 25, 1776, p. 234.
Brief histories of George Washington’s gold medal are found in Georgia Stamm Chamberlain, American
Medals and Medalists (Annandale, VA: Designed and Lithographed by the Turnpike Press, Inc., 1963), pp. 16-
17; R.W. Julian, Medals of the United States Mint: The First Century 1792-1892 (El Cajon, CA: The Token and
Medal Society, Inc., 1977), pp. 114-115.
b. Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 9, November 4, 1777, pp. 861-862.
c. Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 14, July 26, 1779, p. 890.
d. Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 15, September 24, 1779, p. 1099.
e. Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 19, January 17, 1781, pp. 246-247.
f.
Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 21, October 19, 1781, pp. 1083-1085.
g. Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 33, October 16, 1787, p. 687.
The 1779 gold medal conferred upon Major Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee for his “remarkable
prudence” and “bravery” during the surprise raid of Paulus Hook, NJ, was the first to be struck in
the United States, as previous medals had been struck in France.8 Figure 1 shows the 1779 Major
Henry Lee Congressional Gold Medal.

7 U.S. Continental Congress, Journals of the Continental Congress: 1774-1789, vol. 4, March 25, 1776, p. 234. Brief
histories of George Washington’s gold medal are found in Georgia Stamm Chamberlain, American Medals and
Medalists (Annandale, VA: Designed and Lithographed by the Turnpike Press, Inc., 1963), pp. 16-17; R.W. Julian,
Medals of the United States Mint: The First Century 1792-1892 (El Cajon, CA: The Token and Medal Society, Inc.,
1977), pp. 114-115.
8 Julian, Medals of the United States Mint, p. xviii.
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Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

Figure 1. Major Henry Lee Congressional Gold Medal

Source: Museums Victoria (AUS) “Medal–Congressional Medal, Henry Lee, United States,” Item NU 36568, at
https://col ections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1382927.
19th Century Recipients
Following the ratification of the Constitution, Congress gave the first two Congressional Gold
Medals in 1800 to Captain Thomas Truxton for his gallant effort during the action between the
U.S. frigate Constellation and the French ship La Vengeance and in 1805 to Commodore Edward
Preble for gallantry and good conduct during the War with Tripoli.9 After those medals, Congress
issued gold medals primarily for military achievements in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War.
All told, Congress awarded 27 gold medals for the War of 1812,10 and another series of medals
for expeditions led by Major General Zachary Taylor and Major General Winfield Scott in the
Mexican War. General Taylor received three Congressional Gold Medals,11 while General Scott
received one.12
In 1854, Congress began to broaden the scope of activities that it recognized as meriting a
Congressional Gold Medal. This change was prompted by Commander Duncan N. Ingraham of

9 2 Stat. 87 (1800), 2 Stat. 346-347 (1805). See also Theodore T. Belote, “Naval War Medals of the United States 1800-
1815, Part III,” Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, vol. 56, January 1922, pp. 77-93; Julian, Medals of
the United States Mint, p. 150; Labatt, The Medallic History of the United States, vol. 1, pp. 128-132.
10 For example, see 3 Stat. 341 (1816). On February 22, 1816, Congress awarded gold medals to Captain Charles
Steward of the frigate Constitution and to Captain James Biddle of the sloop of war Hornet. Crews of the Constitution
and Hornet were awarded silver medals. See also Theodore T. Belote, “Military and Naval Medals of the War of 1812-
1815, Part II,” Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, vol. 55, November 1921, p. 639; Belote, “Naval War
Medals of the United States 1800-1815, Part III,” pp. 92-93; Julian, Medals of the United States Mint, p. 153; Labatt,
The Medallic History of the United States, vol. 1, pp. 249-252.
11 9 Stat. 111 (1846), 9 Stat. 206 (1847), and 9 Stat. 334-335 (1848). See also Chamberlain, American Medals and
Medalists, pp. 75-93.
12 9 Stat. 333 (1848). See also Theodore T. Belote, “Military Medals of the War with Mexico and the Civil War,”
Numismatist, vol. 56, May 1922, pp. 280-281; Julian, Medals of the United States Mint, p. 138. In addition to medals
for Generals Taylor and Scott, gold medals were given to 10 officers and seamen belonging or attached to the French,
British, and Spanish ships-of-war, who on December 10, 1846, gallantly rescued 37 of the officers and crew from the
wreck of the United States brig Somers in Vera Cruz harbor (9 Stat. 208 [1847]).
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the USS St. Louis, whom Congress awarded a gold medal for his “gallant and judicious conduct
... in extending protection to Martin Koszta, by rescuing him from illegal seizure and
imprisonment on board the Austrian war-brig Hussar.”13 Subsequently, Congress awarded gold
medals to several individuals recognized for nonmilitary heroic activities or their work in specific
fields. For example, in 1864, Cornelius Vanderbilt was honored for donating a steamship to the
United States;14 in 1867, Cyrus W. Field was praised for his work in the laying of the transatlantic
cable;15 and Private George F. Robinson was awarded for saving Secretary of State William H.
Seward from an assassination attempt.16 In 1861, Congress also established the Medal of Honor
as a military award and increasingly focused the Congressional Gold Medal as an award for
nonmilitary individuals and events.17
20th and 21st Century Recipients
In the 20th and 21st centuries, Congress continued to broaden the scope of what it recognized as
meriting a Congressional Gold Medal to include recognition of excellence in such varied fields as
the arts, athletics, aviation, diplomacy, entertainment, exploration, medicine, politics, religion,
and science. Several of the following individuals were the first in their specialties to be awarded
Congressional Gold Medals:
• Composer George M. Cohan (1936) was the first entertainer to receive a gold
medal, for his patriotic songs “Over There” and “A Grand Old Flag.”18
• Wilbur and Orville Wright (1909) were the first aeronautical or space pioneers to
receive a gold medal, for their achievements in demonstrating to the world the
potential of aerial navigation.19

13 10 Stat. 594-595 (1854). For more information on Commander Ingraham and Martin Koszta, see U.S. Naval
Institute, “A Personal Narrative of the Koszta Affair,” Proceedings, Vol. 53/3/289 (March 1927), at
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1927/march/personal-narrative-koszta-affair.
14 13 Stat. 401-402 (1864). See also U.S. President, 1861-1865 (Lincoln), Message of the President of the United States
Recommending That Some Suitable Acknowledgment Be Made to Cornelius Vanderbilt for the Valuable Present to the
United States of the Steamer “Vanderbilt,” S. Ex. Doc. 71, 37th Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 1862), p. 1.
15 14 Stat. 574 (1867). See also U.S. President, 1865-1869 (A. Johnson), Gold Medal Presented to Cyrus W. Field,
Message From the President in Relation to the Gold Medal Presented to Mr. Cyrus W. Field, H. Ex. Doc. 89, 40th
Cong., 3rd sess. (Washington: GPO, 1869).
16 16 Stat. 704 (1871). See also U.S. Congress, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, George F. Robinson, report to
accompany H.Res. 501, 41st Cong., 3rd sess., H.Rept. 33 (Washington: GPO, 1874).
17 12 Stat. 330 (1861), 12 Stat. 623-624 (1862). Also, see CRS Report 95-519, Medal of Honor: History and Issues, by
Barbara Salazar Torreon; Above and Beyond: A History of the Medal of Honor From the Civil War to Vietnam (Boston:
Boston Publishing Co., 1985); E. Kerrigan, American War Medals and Decorations (New York: The Viking Press),
1964, pp. 3-11; George Lang, Medal of Honor Recipients, 1863-1994, 2 vols. (New York: Facts on File, 1995); U.S.
Congress, Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1978, committee print no. 3, 96th
Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 1979); Mendel L. Peterson, “The Navy Medal of Honor,” Numismatist, vol. 63,
June 1950, pp. 305-312; Mendel L. Peterson, “The Army Medal of Honor,” Numismatist, vol. 63, September 1950, pp.
557-565.
18 49 Stat. 2371 (1936). See also U.S. Congress, House Committee on the Library, To Authorize the President to
Present a Gold Medal to George M. Cohan in Recognition of His Patriotic Service, H.Rept. 2868, 74th Cong., 2nd sess.
(Washington: GPO, 1936).
19 35 Stat. 1627 (1909). See also “Gold Medal by Congress to Wright Brothers,” Numismatist, vol. 22, August 1919,
pp. 231-232; Arthur L. Newman, “Some Medals Struck in Honor of the Wright Brothers,” Numismatist, vol. 81,
December 1968, p. 1576.
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• Lincoln Ellsworth (1926) was the first explorer honored, for his polar flight in
1925 and transpolar flight in 1926.20
• Major Walter Reed and his associates (1928) were the first scientists honored, for
discovering the cause and means of transmission of yellow fever in 1921.21
• Vice President Alben W. Barkley (1949) was the first political honoree.22
• Roberto Clemente (1973) was the first athlete honoree.23
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Congress has honored numerous other individuals for a
variety of contributions including civil rights activism and humanitarian contributions.24 For a
complete list of Congressional Gold Medal recipients since 1776, see the Appendix.
Authorizing Congressional Gold Medals
Once a Congressional Gold Medal bill is introduced, it is typically referred to the House
Committee on Financial Services or the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs.25 The process for considering legislation varies between the House and Senate.
House of Representatives
In the House, there are currently no chamber or committee rules regarding procedures for gold
medal bills. In some past Congresses, the House Financial Services Committee had adopted a
committee rule that prohibited its relevant subcommittee from holding a hearing on
commemorative medal legislation—including Congressional Gold Medals—“unless the
legislation is cosponsored by at least two-thirds of the members of the House.”26 Informal
practices regarding cosponsorship requirements, however, may still exist. For example, in the
118th Congress (2023-2024), the House majority leader’s protocols state that the “Majority Leader
shall only consider five Gold Medal bills in a Congress that receive at least 290 cosponsors and
are submitted to the Committee on Financial Services to be scheduled for the Floor.”27 Rules or

20 45 Stat. 2026-2027 (1928). See also U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Commerce, A Medal of Honor to Lincoln
Ellsworth, S.Rept. 831, 70th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 1928).
21 45 Stat. 1409-1410 (1929). See also U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Military Affairs, To Recognize the High
Public Service Rendered by Major Walter Reed and Those Associated with Him in the Discovery of the Cause and
Means of Transmission of Yellow Fever, S.Rept. 1912, 70th Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 1929).
22 63 Stat. 599 (1949). See also U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Banking and Currency, Medal for Vice President
Alben W. Barkley, S.Rept. 742, 81st Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 1949).
23 P.L. 93-33, 87 Stat. 71 (1973). See also, U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs,
Roberto Walker Clemente Medals, report to accompany H.R. 3841, S.Rept. 93-133, 93rd Cong., 1st sess. (Washington:
GPO, 1973).
24 For examples of civil rights activists receiving gold medals, see 98 Stat. 173-174 (1984); 112 Stat. 2681-597 (1998);
113 Stat. 50-51 (1999); 117 Stat. 2017-2019 (2003); 117 Stat. 2645-2647 (2003); 118 Stat. 1746-1748 (2004). See also
Gold Medals to the Daughter of Harry S. Truman; Lady Bird Johnson; and the Widow of Roy Wilkins, pp. 11-108. For
examples of the recognition of humanitarian efforts, see 111 Stat. 35-36 (1997), 111 Stat. 1170-1171 (1997); 112 Stat.
895-896 (1998).
25 U.S. Congress, House, Financial Services Committee, at http://financialservices.house.gov; and U.S. Congress,
Senate, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, at https://www.banking.senate.gov. Additionally, some
bills have been referred to the Committee on House Administration.
26 “Publication of Committee Rules,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 159 (February 15, 2013), p. H580.
27 U.S. Congress, House Majority Leader, “118th Congress Floor Protocols,” at https://www.majorityleader.gov/
schedule/floor-protocols.htm. Additionally, the protocols state that “(A) the recipient must be a natural person; (B) the
(continued...)
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protocols regarding consideration of Congressional Gold Medals have existed in previous
Congresses under both majority parties.28
Senate
In the Senate, the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee in the 118th Congress requires
that at least 67 Senators cosponsor any Congressional Gold Medal bill before being considered by
the committee.29 This committee rule presumably does not formally preclude committee
consideration of a House bill referred to it.30 The committee rule also does not prevent the Senate
from considering or passing gold medal legislation. Referred bills may be brought to the floor
without committee consideration; in other cases, a bill may avoid being referred to committee at
all.31 In current practice, many enacted gold medal bills receive no formal committee
consideration. Rather, the Senate often discharges the committee of the bill by unanimous
consent; however, it appears that this discharge practice only occurs after the requisite number of
cosponsors sign on to a Senate bill.
Other Statutory Limitations
Although Congress has approved legislation stipulating requirements for numerous other awards
and decorations,32 there are no permanent statutory provisions specifically relating to the
authorization of Congressional Gold Medals. When a Congressional Gold Medal has been
deemed appropriate, Congress has, by legislative action, provided for the award of a medal on an

recipient must have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be
recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field long after the achievement; (C) the recipient has not received
a medal previously for the same or substantially the same achievement; (D) the recipient is living or, if deceased, has
not been deceased for less than five years or more than twenty-five years; and (E) the achievements were performed in
the recipient’s field of endeavor, and represent either a lifetime of continuous superior achievements or a single
achievement so significant that the recipient is recognized and acclaimed by others in the same field, as evidenced by
the recipient having received the highest honors in the field.”
28 When the Democratic Party was in the majority in the 117th Congress, the majority leader’s protocols provided
guidance on scheduling legislation to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to strike a gold medal. The protocols stated
that “the Majority Leader shall consider the first three Gold Medal bills in a Congress that receive 290 cosponsors and
are submitted to the Committee on Financial Services to be scheduled for the floor.” Additionally, the protocol noted
that “(a) the recipient must be a natural person; (b) the recipient must have performed an achievement that has an
impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field
long after the achievement; (c) the recipient must not have received a medal previously for the same or substantially the
same achievement; (d) the recipient must be living or, if deceased, has not been deceased for less than five years or
more than twenty-five years; and (e) the achievements were performed in the recipient’s field of endeavor, and
represent either a lifetime of continuous superior achievements or a single achievement so significant that the recipient
is recognized and acclaimed by others in the same field, as evidenced by the recipient having received the highest
honors in the field.” U.S. Congress, House, Majority Leader, “117th Congress Legislative Protocols.”
29 “Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Rules of Procedure,” Congressional Record, daily
edition, vol. 169 (February 9, 2023), pp. S296-S298. Rule 8 states, “At least 67 Senators must cosponsor any gold
medal or commemorative coin bill or resolution before consideration by the Committee.”
30 A House bill would have no Senate cosponsors. For more information on sponsorship, see CRS Report 98-279,
Sponsorship and Cosponsorship of Senate Bills, by Mark J. Oleszek; and CRS Report RS22477, Sponsorship and
Cosponsorship of House Bills, by Mark J. Oleszek.
31 See CRS Report RS22309, Senate Rule XIV Procedure for Placing Measures Directly on the Senate Calendar, for
explanation of the ways in which an introduced bill (or one received from the House) may receive floor consideration
without a committee referral or committee action.
32 See “Decorations, Medals, and Badges,” in the general index of the United States Code: 2000 Edition (Washington:
GPO, 2001).
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ad hoc basis. Additionally, there is no statutory limit on the number of Congressional Gold
Medals that may be struck in a given year.
Sample Congressional Gold Medal Language
Congressional Gold Medal legislation generally has certain features, including
• a short title;
• findings that summarize the subject’s history and importance;
• specifications for awarding the medal;
• instructions, if any, for the medal’s design and striking;
• permission to mint and sell duplicates; and
• certification that medals are minted pursuant to existing requirements for national
medals (5 U.S.C. §5111).
Short Title
Congressional Gold Medal legislation often includes a short title. For example, the legislation to
authorize the Congressional Gold Medal to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (“Six
Triple Eight”) stated:
SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “‘Six Triple Eight’ Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021.”33
Findings
Congressional Gold Medal legislation typically includes a section of findings. These often
include historical facts about the people or groups being awarded the medal. For example, the
legislation to authorize the Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the
“Doolittle Tokyo Raiders” stated:
FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) on April 18, 1942, the brave men of the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) became known as the “Doolittle
Tokyo Raiders” for outstanding heroism, valor, skil , and service to the United States in conducting the bombings
of Tokyo;
(2) 80 brave American aircraft crewmen, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, volunteered for an
“extremely hazardous mission”, without knowing the target, location, or assignment, and wil ingly put their lives in
harm’s way, risking death, capture, and torture;
(3) the conduct of medium bomber operations from a Navy aircraft carrier under combat conditions had never
before been attempted;
(4) after the discovery of the USS Hornet by Japanese picket ships 170 miles further away from the prearranged
launch point, the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders proceeded to take off 670 miles from the coast of Japan;
(5) by launching more than 100 miles beyond the distance considered to be minimally safe for the mission, the
Doolittle Tokyo Raiders deliberately accepted the risk that the B-25s might not have enough fuel to reach the
designated air-fields in China on return;

33 P.L. 117-97, 136 Stat. 36 (2022).
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(6) the additional launch distance greatly increased the risk of crash landing in Japanese occupied China, exposing
the crews to higher probability of death, injury, or capture;
(7) because of that deliberate choice, after bombing their targets in Japan, low on fuel and in setting night and
deteriorating weather, none of the 16 airplanes reached the prearranged Chinese airfields;
(8) of the 80 Doolittle Tokyo Raiders who launched on the raid, 8 were captured, 2 died in the crash, and 70
returned to the United States;
(9) of the 8 captured Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, 3 were executed and 1 died of disease; and
(10) there were only 5 surviving members of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders as of February 2013.34
Medal Presentation, Design, and Striking
Congressional Gold Medal legislation typically includes a section that provides details on the
presentation, design, and striking of the medal. For example, the legislation to authorize the
Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in Bloody Sunday, Turnaround
Tuesday, or the final Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March in March of 1965 stated:
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.—The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of
the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of
appropriate design to the Foot Soldiers who participated in Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, or the final
Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March during March of 1965, which served as a catalyst for the Voting Rights
Act of 1965.
(b) Design and Striking.—For purposes of the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the
Treasury (referred to in this Act as the “Secretary”) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and
inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.35
When presenting a medal to a group, Congress often directs the Mint to strike a single
Congressional Gold Medal and statutorily directs that the medal be given to an institution
affiliated with the group or to the Smithsonian. This section can name the group and can contain
specific instructions for the disposition and display of the medal. For example, the legislation
authorizing the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal stated:
(c) Smithsonian Institution.—
(1) In general.—Fol owing the award of the gold medal in honor of the American Fighter Aces, the gold medal
shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it wil be available for display as appropriate and available for
research.
(2) Sense of the Congress.—It is the sense of the Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold
medal awarded pursuant to this Act available for display elsewhere, particularly at appropriate locations associated
with the American Fighter Aces, and that preference should be given to locations affiliated with the Smithsonian
Institution.36
Duplicate Medals
Gold medal legislation also generally authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell
duplicate medals in bronze. The U.S. Mint generally sells the duplicates on its website in two

34 P.L. 113-106, 128 Stat. 1160 (2014).
35 P.L. 114-5, 129 Stat. 78 (2015).
36 P.L. 113-105, 128 Stat. 1157 (2014).
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sizes: 1.5 inches and 3 inches.37 The U.S. Mint sets duplicate prices that allow it to cover the cost
of striking the duplicate medals. For example, legislation authorizing the Congressional Gold
Medal for the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the “Harlem Hellfighters,” stated:
DUPLICATE MEDALS.
(a) In General.—The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3,
at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the bronze medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
(b) Proceeds of Sales.—The amounts received from the sale of duplicate medals under subsection (a) shall be
deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
(c) Authority to Use Fund Amounts.—There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public
Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck under this Act..38
Status of Medals
Gold medal legislation generally contains a statement that these awards are considered as national
medals for the purpose of the U.S. Mint’s statutory requirements for producing medals. For
example, legislation authorizing the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold
Medal stated:
STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.—Medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31,
United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.—For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this
Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.39
Authorization of Appropriations; Proceeds
In some cases, Congressional Gold Medal bills include language authorizing appropriations. In
these examples, Congress has authorized a specific sum from the United States Mint Public
Enterprise Fund to pay for the cost of the medal. In cases where the authorization of
appropriations is provided, a provision requiring that proceeds from the sale of duplicates be
deposited in the same Fund is generally included. For example, legislation authorizing the
Women Airforce Service Pilots Congressional Gold Medal stated:
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public
Enterprise Fund, an amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medal authorized under section 2.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.—Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals under section 3 shall be
deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.40
Some recent Congressional Gold Medal legislation has not authorized a specific dollar amount
for the design and striking of the medal. Rather, the legislation has provided that “such amounts

37 For more information about duplicate Congressional Gold Medals, see CRS In Focus IF10934, Duplicate
Congressional Gold Medals: Frequently Asked Questions, by Jacob R. Straus.
38 P.L. 117-38, 135 Stat. 333 (2021).
39 P.L. 117-334, 136 Stat. 6140 (2022).
40 P.L. 111-40, 123 Stat. 1961 (2009).
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as may be necessary” can be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund for
the medal. For example, the legislation authorizing the “Hidden Figures” Congressional Gold
Medals for Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson stated the
following:
AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.—There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public
Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.—Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4
shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.41
Design of Medals
Congressional Gold Medal designs vary for each issuance. In general, the authorizing legislation
provides that the Secretary of the Treasury “shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems,
devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.”42 When designing a Congressional
Gold Medal, the Secretary consults with the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and
the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) before determining the final design.
Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
Established in 2003,43 the CCAC advises the Secretary of the Treasury on theme and design of all
U.S. coins and medals. For Congressional Gold Medals, the CCAC advises the Secretary “on any
theme or design proposals relating to ... Congressional Gold Medals.”44
The CCAC consists of 11 members appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury, with four persons
appointed upon the recommendation of the congressional leadership (one each by the Speaker of
the House, the House minority leader, the Senate majority leader, and the Senate minority
leader).45 The CCAC meets several times each year to consider design suggestions for coins and
medals. For each coin considered, the CCAC provides advice to the Secretary “on thematic,
technical, and design issues related to the production of coins.”46 The committee publishes its
recommendations to its website, at http://www.ccac.gov.
For example, in June 2020, the U.S. Mint presented several alternative designs for the Larry
Doby Congressional Gold Medal. In a letter to the U.S. Mint, the CCAC provided its
recommendations on the design for the gold medal. CCAC’s letter stated the following:
Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal
The family’s preference is LD-O-0IA and LD-R-03 and LD-R-03A. The CCAC's recommended designs are LD-O-
lA and LD-R-3 with the modification that “Act of Congress” be removed from the reverse as it also appears on
the recommended obverse design. During the meeting Chairman Uram noted and read into the record a letter

41 P.L. 116-68, 133 Stat. 1132 (2019).
42 For example, see P.L. 111-253, 124 Stat. 2636 (2010).
43 P.L. 108-15, 117 Stat. 615 (2003); 31 U.S.C. §5135.
44 Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, “About Us,” at https://www.ccac.gov/aboutUs/index.html.
45 For a list of current members of the CCAC, see Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, “Members,” at
https://www.ccac.gov/aboutUs/members.html.
46 U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, Civic Art: A Centennial History of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (Amherst, MA:
University of Massachusetts Press, 2013), p. 480. [Hereinafter CFA, Civic Art.]
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from Representative Bil Pascrell Jr, Senator Robert Menendez, and Senator Cory Booker supporting the family's
preferences.
•
Obverse (LD-O-01A): The design depicts Larry Doby posing with a baseball bat in front of Hinchliffe Stadium.
Hinchliffe Stadium, located in Paterson, New Jersey, was the home of the Newark Eagles, Doby's Negro
National League team. The CCAC scored the design a perfect 30 out of a possible 30 votes.
•
Reverse (LD-R-03): Based on a famed photo, the design depicts Larry Doby and Steve Gromek hugging after
their World Series win. It includes the inscription “We are Stronger Together as a Team, as [a] Nation, as a
World” which is a quote offered by Larry Doby Jr as a way to encapsulate his father’s sentiments and legacy.
The CCAC scored this design 23 votes of a possible 30. A slightly different variation of the same design (LD-
R-03A) received I4 votes.47
Figure 2 shows the CCAC’s preferred designs for the obverse and reverse of the Larry Doby
Congressional Gold Medal.
Figure 2. CCAC Preferred Design for Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal

Source: U.S. Mint, “CCAC Meeting Images for the Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal,” June 23, 2020, at
https://www.usmint.gov/news/ccac-meetings/larry-doby-congressional-gold-medal.

47 Letter from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, to Steven T. Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury, June 23,
2020, at https://www.ccac.gov/media/calendar/lettersToSecretary/CCAC_June_23_2020_Recommendations.pdf.
Images presented to the CCAC for the Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal can be found at U.S. Mint, “CCAC
Meeting Images for the Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal,” at https://www.usmint.gov/news/ccac-meetings/larry-
doby-congressional-gold-medal.
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U.S. Commission of Fine Arts
In tandem with recommendations received from the CCAC, the U.S. Mint also seeks a
recommendation from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA).48 Similar to CCAC, CFA
reviews proposed designs and issues recommendations.
For example, in March 2014, the U.S. Mint presented several alternative designs for the First
Special Service Force Congressional Gold Medal. In a letter to the U.S. Mint, the CFA provided
recommendations on the design for the gold medal. CFA’s letter stated the following:
27 March 2014
Dear Mr. Peterson:
In its meeting of 20 March, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed alternative designs for a Congressional Gold
Medal honoring the First Special Service Force. The Commission members present provided the fol owing
recommendations.
For the obverse, the Commission members recommended alternative #8, commenting on its strong
three−dimensional character and clear compositional elements. They recommended reverse #2, supporting the
reported recommendation of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, due to the compatibility of its
composition with the recommended obverse.
As there was not a quorum for the review of the submission, these recommendations wil be placed on the
administrative agenda for confirmation at the Commission’s meeting of 17 April. As always, the staff is available to
assist you with future submissions.
Sincerely,

/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary49
U.S. Mint
After receiving advice from the CCAC and the CFA, the Secretary of the Treasury, through the
U.S. Mint, finalizes the Congressional Gold Medal’s design and schedules it for production.
Figure 3 shows the final design of two Congressional Gold Medals: the New Frontier
Congressional Gold Medal for Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, and John Glenn;
and the Jack Nicklaus Congressional Gold Medal.

48 40 U.S.C. §9102. Established in 1910, the CFA advises “upon the location of statues, fountains, and monuments in
the public squares, streets, and parks in the District of Columbia; the selection of models for statues, fountains, and
monuments erected under the authority of the Federal Government; the selection of artists; and questions of art
generally when required to do so by the President or a committee of Congress.”
49 Letter from Thomas E. Luebke, secretary, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, to Richard A. Peterson, deputy director,
U.S. Mint, March 27, 2014, at https://www.cfa.gov/records-research/project-search/cfa-20mar14-6.
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Figure 3. Recent Examples of Congressional Gold Medal Design

Source: U.S. Mint, “New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal,” at https://catalog.usmint.gov/new-frontier-
bronze-medal-3-inch-920.html?cgid=humanitarian-cultural; and U.S. Mint, “Jack Nicklaus Congressional Gold
Medal,” at https://catalog.usmint.gov/jack-nicklaus-bronze-medal-3-inch-15ME.html?cgid=humanitarian-cultural.
Presentation of Medals
Once the U.S. Mint designs and strikes a Congressional Gold Medal, a formal presentation
ceremony is generally scheduled. Congressional Gold Medal presentations may occur in a variety
of locations. For example, past gold medals have been presented in foreign countries, at the White
House, in the U.S. Capitol, in federal office buildings, and in cities throughout the United States.
Table 2 lists locations for Congressional Gold Medal presentations since 1959, the number and
percentage of medals presented in a particular location, and the most recent medal presented.
Table 2. Location of Congressional Gold Medal Ceremonies, 1959-2024
Location
#
Percentage
Most Recent
White House
29
25.9%
Little Rock Nine (November 9, 1999)a
United States Capitol

Rotunda
29
25.9%
Capitol Police Officers and Others who Protected the
Capitol on January 6, 2021 (December 6, 2022)b
Emancipation Hall
16
14.3%
Rosie the Riveter (April 10, 2024)c
National Statuary Hall
5
4.5%
Larry Doby (December 13, 2023)d
Othere
4
3.6%
Frank Sinatra (June 5, 1998)
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Location
#
Percentage
Most Recent
Federal Building
3
2.7%
Aaron Copland (November 8, 1989, U.S. Mint
Headquarters, Washington, DC)f
Foreign Country
3
2.7%
Pope John Paul II (January 8, 2001, Vatican City State,
Rome)g
Domestic Non-Federal
8
7.1%
John Cardinal O’Connor (July 10, 2001, New York City)h
Virtual
3
2.7%
Merril ’s Marauders (5307th Composite Unit (Provision))
(May 25, 2022)i
Unknown
1
0.9%
—j
Not Yet Scheduled
11
9.8%
—k
Total
112
100%

Source: CRS analysis of Congressional Gold Medal Ceremonies.
Notes:
a. U.S. President (Clinton), “Remarks on Presenting the Congressional Gold Medals to the Little Rock Nine,”
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, vol. 45 (November 9, 1999), pp. 2307-2310.
b. H.Con.Res. 118 (117th Congress), agreed to December 1, 2022; and U.S. Congress, House, “U.S. Capitol
and Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Are Honored,” at https://www.house.gov/feature-stories/2022-12-
8-congressional-gold-medal-ceremony.
c. H.Con.Res. 85 (118th Congress), agreed to April 15, 2024.
d. U.S. Congress, Speaker of the House, “Speaker Johnson, Congressional Leaders Honor Larry Doby with
Congressional Gold Medal,” press release, December 13, 2023, at https://www.speaker.gov/speaker-
johnson-congressional-leaders-honor-larry-doby-with-congressional-gold-medal.
e. Other locations in the U.S. Capitol have included, the East Front Steps of the Capitol (General of the Army
Douglas MacArthur [1971]), a Senate office building (Rear Admiral Hyman George Rickover [1959]), other
spaces in the U.S. Capitol (John Wayne [1980]), and a Member’s personal office (Frank Sinatra [1998] in
Rep. Jose Serrano’s office). Frank Sinatra: Richard Sisk, “Congress Hails Frank,” New York Daily News, June 6,
1998, p. 8.
f.
Department of the Treasury, “Annual Report of the Bureau of the Mint. Fiscal Year 1990,” p. 17.
g. Teresa Malcolm, “Congressional Delegation Presents Medal to Pope,” National Catholic Reporter, vol. 37
(January 19, 2001), p. 12.
h. U.S. President (George W. Bush), “Remarks on the Posthumous Presentation of the Congressional Gold
Medal to John Cardinal O’Connor in New York City,” Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, vol. 37
(July 10, 2001), pp. 1025-1026.
i.
U.S. Congress, Speaker of the House, “Transcript of Pelosi Remarks at Virtual Congressional Gold Medal
Ceremony Honoring the Merril ’s Marauders,” at https://web.archive.org/web/20220622005940/https://
www.speaker.gov/newsroom/52522-2.
j.
CRS was unable to determine the location of a ceremony to present the Congressional Gold Medal to
former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (2003).
k. Ceremonies have not yet been scheduled to present Congressional Gold Medals for Anwar Sadat; NASA’s
Hidden Figures (Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson); Greg LeMond;
Harlem Hellfighters in World War II (369th Infantry Regiment); Servicemembers who Perished in
Afghanistan on August 26, 2021; Wil ie O’Ree; Women’s Army Corps (6888th Central Postal Directory
Battalion); United States Army Rangers of World War II; Former Hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis of
1979-1981; Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith; and Benjamin Berell
Ferecz.
Issues for Congress
As Members of Congress contemplate introducing legislation, and the House or the Senate
potentially consider Congressional Gold Medal measures, there are several issues that could be
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considered. These can be divided into issues for individual Members of Congress with respect to
individual Congressional Gold Medals, and issues for Congress as an institution. Individual
issues include choices Members may make about which people or groups might be honored and
whether specific design elements might be specified statutorily. Institutional issues might include
committee or chamber rules on the consideration of Congressional Gold Medals and creating
standards for the issuance of gold medals.
Individual Considerations
Individuals and Groups Honored
Some Congressional Gold Medals have honored individuals (e.g., Arnold Palmer, Muhammad
Yunus), some discrete groups of individuals (e.g., General of the Army George Catlett Marshall
and Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King, Ruth and Billy Graham), and some larger groups (e.g.,
military units such as Women Airforce Service Pilots [“WASP”], Monuments Men). In choosing
whom or what to recognize, Members of Congress generally evaluate whether they believe that
the individual’s or group’s activities merit recognition by Congress. Congressional Gold Medals
are “the highest civilian honor award program ... [to] honor national achievement in patriotic,
humanitarian, and artistic endeavors.”50 There are no specific criteria to determine whether or not
an individual or group meets those lofty goals. Instead, each individual or group is judged on their
merits by Congress should the legislation be considered.
Specification of Design Elements
Congressional Gold Medal authorizations generally do not specify design elements. Instead, they
direct the Secretary of the Treasury to “strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and
inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.”51 Should Congress want to specify particular
design elements, they might be included in the authorizing legislation.52 This would provide the
Secretary of the Treasury with congressional intent on what should be incorporated into the gold
medal design. Similar statutory specificity is sometimes included in commemorative coin
legislation.53 Such specification, however, could serve to limit design choices for the gold medal
and might alter the cost structure of striking the award, if the required element diverges from
standard practices.54

50 Civic Art, p. 480.
51 For example, see P.L. 113-11, §2(b) (“The Little Rock Four”), 127 Stat. 447 (2013); or P.L. 113-114, §2(b) (Shimon
Peres), 128 Stat. 1176 (2014).
52 For example, the Native American Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medal provided general specifications for the
gold medal. It stated that “the design of a gold medal ... shall be emblematic of the participation of the code talkers of
each recognized tribe” P.L. 110-420, 122 Stat. 4776 (2008).
53 For example, Congress specified that the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary commemorative coin “shall be produced in a
fashion similar to the 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame 75th Anniversary Commemorative Coin, so that the reverse
of the coin is convex to more closely resemble the visor of the astronaut’s helmet of the time and the obverse concave,
providing a more dramatic display of the obverse design.... ” P.L. 114-282, §3(d)(1), 130 Stat. 1443 (2016).
54 For example, see discussion on the size of precious-metal blanks for the 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame
commemorative coin that accompanied P.L. 113-10 (127 Stat. 445 (2013)), at “National Baseball Hall of Fame
Commemorative Coin Act Amendment,” Congressional Record, vol. 159, daily edition (April 24, 2013), pp. H2260-
H2261.
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Location of Medal Awarded to Groups
Congressional Gold Medal legislation for groups generally provides that only a single gold medal
is struck and specifies where it will be located after it is formally awarded. In many cases, the
gold medal is given to the Smithsonian for appropriate display and where it can be made available
for research.55 In other cases, the gold medal is provided to an organization that represents the
honored group.56 Since most gold medal legislation contains a provision on the medal’s location,
a Member of Congress can help determine where the medal will be located.
Institutional Consideration
Requirements for Legislative Considerations
As discussed above under “Authorizing Congressional Gold Medals,” neither the House nor
Senate rules provide any restrictions specifically concerning consideration of Congressional Gold
Medal legislation on the House or Senate floor. In the 118th Congress, the Senate Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs requires that at least 67 Senators must cosponsor any
Senate Congressional Gold Medal bill before being considered by the committee.57 Currently, the
House Financial Services Committee has not adopted any specific rules concerning committee
consideration of Congressional Gold Medal legislation, although it has required a minimum
number of cosponsors in past Congresses for committee consideration.58
As demonstrated by the discontinuation of the House Financial Services Committee rule requiring
a minimum number of cosponsors for committee gold medal legislation, committee rules can be
changed from Congress to Congress. Should the committee want to place requirements on its
consideration of gold medal legislation, the Financial Services Committee could readopt its
former rule, or something similar. Adopting committee rules to require a minimum number of
cosponsors might encourage bill sponsors to build support among Representatives for gold medal
bills. Such a minimum requirement, however, could potentially limit the number or type of gold
medal bills the committee considers. Since only the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs has a rule that imposes a formal qualification on the potential committee
consideration of gold medal legislation, the possible path forward for a bill could be different
within each chamber.
Should the House, the Senate, or both want to adopt similar language for committee or chamber
consideration of gold medal legislation, such language could be incorporated into future
committee rules, into House and Senate Rules, or into law. Taking steps to formally codify the
gold medal consideration process might provide sponsors with a single process for award
consideration, which could make it easier for gold medal bills to meet minimum requirements for

55 For example, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Gold Medal provided “(1) ... Following the award of the gold
medal in commemoration to the members of the Office of Strategic Services under subsection (a), the gold medal shall
be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as appropriate and made available for research [;
and] (2) ... It is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received under
paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the Office of
Strategic Services.” P.L. 114-269, §3(c), 130 Stat. 1393 (2016).
56 For example, the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal was provided to the National Museum of the
United States Air Force. P.L. 113-106, §2(a)(3), 128 Stat. 1161 (2014).
57 “Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Rules of Procedure,” Congressional Record, daily
edition, vol. 167 (February 9, 2023), pp. S296-S298.
58 U.S. Congress, House, Committee on Financial Services, Rules for the Committee on Financial Services, 113th
Cong., 1st sess. (2013), p. 6, at http://financialservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/113-a.pdf#page=12.
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consideration across both the House and Senate. Such codification could also limit congressional
flexibility and might result in fewer proposals or authorizations to comply with new standards.
Statutory Standards
Currently, there is no statutory limit to the number of Congressional Gold Medals that can be
authorized. Should Congress want to place a limit on the number of gold medals awarded,
standards could be adopted to provide a maximum number of gold medals authorized in any year
or Congress. Congress has previously adopted similar standards for commemorative coins—only
two coins may be minted in any given calendar year.59
Legislation to place a limit on the number of gold medals authorized has previously been
introduced and considered in the House. During the 109th Congress (2005-2006), H.R. 54 passed
the House and would have restricted the Secretary of the Treasury from striking “more than 2
congressional gold medals for presentation ... in any calendar year.”60 Introduced by
Representative Michael Castle, the stated purpose of the legislation was to “maintain the prestige
of the medal by limiting the number that may be awarded each year,” and to “clarify that
recipients are individuals and not groups.” Passage of the measure, he argued, would “ensure the
future integrity and true honor of the award.”61 H.R. 54 did not receive further consideration in
the Senate.
While proponents of a limit on the number of gold medals issued might make arguments similar
to those made by Representative Castle, opponents believe that Congress should reserve the right
to authorize as many gold medals as it deems necessary, without consideration of the number
struck in any calendar year. Representative Joseph Crowley in opposing the legislation told his
House colleagues, “We are rushing to act on an issue that does not represent a problem.” “Who
that received this medal in the past,” he asked, “was not worthy of it?” Further, Crowley argued
that “there are occasions when more than one person is justified to receive the medal for their
honorable actions in tandem with others.” He continued by emphasizing that had this bill already
been law, “Congress would not have been able to issue” a Congressional Gold Medal “to the
Little Rock Nine,” to “President and Mrs. Reagan,” or to “Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott
King.”62
Concluding Observations
Congressional Gold Medals have long been an important way for Congress to express public
gratitude for important historical events and achievements. Congressional Gold Medals, which
have been issued since the American Revolution, are “the highest civilian honor award program
... [to] honor national achievement in patriotic, humanitarian, and artistic endeavors.”63 In recent

59 P.L. 104-208, §529, 110 Stat. 3009-349 (1996); 31 U.S.C. §5112(m)(1). For more information on commemorative
coins, see CRS Report R44623, Commemorative Coins: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress, by
Jacob R. Straus.
60 H.R. 54 (109th Congress), passed the House on January 26, 2005.
61 “Congressional Gold Medal Enhancement Act of 2005,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 151 (January 26,
2004), p. H207. See also “Limits May Be Imposed on Honor Medals,” Washington Post, January 27, 2005, p. A17.
62 “Congressional Gold Medal Enhancement Act of 2005,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 151 (January 26,
2004), pp. H206-H207, H209.
63 Civic Art, p. 480.
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years, the number of gold medals awarded has “soared from four or five per decade for most of
its history to an average of almost twenty in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.”64
Each Congress, legislation to award Congressional Gold Medals is introduced. Table 3 lists the
number of total bills, bills in the House, and bills in the Senate introduced since the 113th
Congress (2013-2014).
Table 3. Number of Congressional Gold Medal Bills Introduced,
113th to 117th Congress
Congress
House
Senate
Total
113th (2013-2014)
34
18
52
114th (2015-2016)
38
14
52
115th (2017-2018)
33
22
55
116th (2019-2020)
38
19
57
117th (2021-2022)
61
29
90
Source: CRS search for “Congressional Gold Medal” bil s on Congress.gov.
Based on the number of measures offered in both chambers, some Members of Congress clearly
feel it is important to recognize individuals and groups for their patriotic, humanitarian, and
artistic achievements. Several considerations appear important when Members decide to
introduce gold medal legislation. These include who should be honored, how many medals
should be awarded in a given Congress, and whether specific design elements should be
prescribed for the medal design. As Congress continues to consider legislation to award future
gold medals, these considerations and others will likely be important factors for issuing the
award.

64 Civic Art, p. 484.
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Appendix. List of Congressional Gold Medals
Awarded: 1776-2022
Table A-1. Congressional Gold Medals Awarded, 1776-2022
Date of
Recipient(s)
Enactment
Law
George Washington
March 25, 1776
Continental Congress
Major General Horatio Gates
November 4, 1777 Continental Congress
Major General Anthony Wayne
July 26, 1779
Continental Congress
Major Henry Lee
September 24, 1779 Continental Congress
Brigadier General Daniel Morgan
March 9, 1781
Continental Congress
Major General Nathanael Greene
October 29, 1781
Continental Congress
John Paul Jones
October 16, 1787
Continental Congress
Captain Thomas Truxton
March 29, 1800
2 Stat. 87
Commodore Edward Preble
March 3, 1805
2 Stat. 346-347
Captain Isaac Hul , Captain Stephen Decatur, and
January 29, 1813
2 Stat. 830
Captain Jacob Jones
Captain Wil iam Bainbridge
March 3, 1813
2 Stat. 831
Captain Oliver Hazard Perry and Captain Jesse D. El iott
January 6, 1814
3 Stat. 141
Lieutenant Wil iam Burrows and Lieutenant Edward R. McCall
January 6, 1814
3 Stat. 141-142
Captain James Lawrence
January 11, 1814
3 Stat. 142
Captain Thomas MacDonough, Captain Robert Henly, and
October 20, 1814
3 Stat. 245-246
Lieutenant Stephen Cassin
Captain Lewis Warrington
October 21, 1814
3 Stat. 246
Captain Johnston Blakely
November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 246-247
Major General Jacob Brown
November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 247
Major General Winfield Scott
November 3, 1814
3 Stat. 247
Brigadier General Eleazar W. Ripley, Brigadier General James Mil er, November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 247
and Major General Peter B. Porter
Major General Edmund P. Gaines
November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 247
Major General Alexander Macomb
November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 247
Major General Andrew Jackson
February 27, 1815
3 Stat. 249
Captain Charles Stewart
February 22, 1816
3 Stat. 341
Captain James Biddle
February 22, 1816
3 Stat. 341
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Date of
Recipient(s)
Enactment
Law
Major General Wil iam Henry Harrison and Governor Isaac Shelby April 4, 1818
3 Stat. 476
Colonel George Croghan
February 13, 1835
4 Stat. 792
Major General Zachary Taylor
July 16, 1846;
9 Stat. 111;
March 2, 1847
9 Stat. 206
Rescuers of the Officers and Crew of the U.S. brig Somers
March 3, 1847
9 Stat. 208
Major General Winfield Scott
March 9, 1848
9 Stat. 333
Major General Zachary Taylor
May 9, 1848
9 Stat. 334-335
Commander Duncan N. Ingraham
August 4, 1854
10 Stat. 594-595
Frederick A. Rose
May 11, 1858
11 Stat. 369
Major General Ulysses S. Grant
December 17, 1863 13 Stat. 399
Cornelius Vanderbilt
January 28, 1864
13 Stat. 401
Captain Creighton, Captain Low, and Captain Stouffer
July 26, 1866
14 Stat. 365-366
Cyrus W. Field
March 2, 1867
14 Stat. 574
George Peabody
March 16, 1867
15 Stat. 20
George F. Robinson
March 1, 1871
16 Stat. 704
Captain Jared S. Crandall and Others
February 24, 1873
17 Stat. 638
John Horn Jr.
June 20, 1874
18 Stat. 573
April 28, 1904
33 Stat. 1684-1685
John F. Slater
February 5, 1883
22 Stat. 636
Joseph Francis
August 27, 1888
25 Stat. 1249
Chief Engineer George Wallace Melvil e and Others
September 30, 1890 26 Stat. 552-553
First Lieutenant Frank H. Newcomb
May 3, 1900
31 Stat. 717
First Lieutenant David H. Jarvis, Second Lieutenant El sworth P.
June 28, 1902
32 Stat. 492
Bertholf, and Dr. Samuel J. Call
Wright Brothers
March 4, 1909
35 Stat. 1627
Captain Arthur Henry Rostron
July 6, 1912
37 Stat. 639
Captain Paul H. Kreibohm and Others
March 19, 1914
38 Stat. 769
Domicio da Gama, Romulo S. Naon, and Eduardo Suarez
March 4, 1915
38 Stat. 1228
Charles A. Lindbergh
May 4, 1928
45 Stat. 490
Lincoln El sworth, Roald Amundsen, and Umberto Nobile
May 29, 1928
45 Stat. 2026-2027
Thomas A. Edison
May 29, 1928
45 Stat. 1012
First Successful Trans-Atlantic Flight
February 9, 1929
45 Stat. 1158
Congressional Research Service

20

Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

Date of
Recipient(s)
Enactment
Law
Major Walter Reed and Associates for Yellow Fever
February 28, 1929
45 Stat. 1409-1410
Experimentations in Cuba
Officers and Men of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition
May 23, 1930
46 Stat. 379
Lincoln El sworth
June 16, 1936
49 Stat. 2324
George M. Cohan
June 29, 1936
49 Stat. 2371
Mrs. Richard Aldrich (nee Margaret Livingston Chanler) and Anna
June 20, 1938
52 Stat. 1365
Bouligny
Howard Hughes
August 7, 1939
53 Stat. 1525
Reverend Francis X. Quinn
August 10, 1939
53 Stat. 1533
Wil iam Sinnott
June 15, 1940
54 Stat. 1283
Roland Boucher
January 20, 1942
56 Stat. 1099-1100
George Catlett Marshall, General of the Army, and Fleet Admiral
March 22, 1946
60 Stat. 1134-1135
Ernest Joseph King
John J. Pershing, General of the Armies of the United States
August 7, 1946
60 Stat. 1297-1298
Brigadier General Wil iam Mitchell
August 8, 1946
60 Stat. 1319
Vice President Alben W. Barkley
August 12, 1949
P.L. 81-221, 63 Stat. 599
Irving Berlin
July 16, 1954
Pv.L. 83-536, 68 Stat.
A120
Doctor Jonas E. Salk
August 9, 1955
P.L. 84-297, 69 Stat. 589
Surviving Veterans of the War Between the States
July 18, 1956
P.L. 84-730, 70 Stat. 577
Rear Admiral Hyman George Rickover
August 28, 1958
P.L. 85-826, 72 Stat. 985
Doctor Robert H. Goddard
September 16, 1959 P.L. 86-277, 73 Stat.
562-563
Robert Frost
September 13, 1960 P.L. 86-747, 74 Stat. 883
Doctor Thomas Anthony Dooley III
May 27, 1961
P.L. 87-42, 75 Stat. 87
Bob Hope
June 8, 1962
P.L. 87-478, 76 Stat. 93
Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the House of Representatives
September 26, 1962 P.L. 87-478, 76 Stat. 605
Douglas MacArthur, General of the Army
October 9, 1962
P.L. 87-760, 76 Stat. 760
Walt Disney
May 24, 1968
P.L. 90-316, 82 Stat.
130-131
Winston Churchil
May 7, 1969
P.L. 91-12, 83 Stat. 8-9
Roberto Walker Clemente
May 14, 1973
P.L. 93-33, 87 Stat. 71
Marian Anderson
March 8, 1977
P.L. 95-9, 91 Stat. 19
Congressional Research Service

21

Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

Date of
Recipient(s)
Enactment
Law
Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker
October 10, 1978
P.L. 95-438, 92 Stat.
1060
Robert F. Kennedy
November 1, 1978 P.L. 95-560, 92 Stat.
2142
John Wayne
May 26, 1979
P.L. 96-15, 93 Stat. 32
Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman
June 13, 1979
P.L. 96-20, 93 Stat. 45
Hubert H. Humphrey
June 13, 1979
P.L. 96-21, 93 Stat. 46
American Red Cross
December 12, 1979 P.L. 96-138, 93 Stat.
1063
Ambassador Kenneth Taylor
March 6, 1980
P.L. 96-201, 94 Stat. 79
Simon Wiesenthal
March 17, 1980
P.L. 96-211, 94 Stat. 101
1980 United States Summer Olympic Team
July 8, 1980
P.L. 96-306, 94 Stat. 937
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
March 22, 1982
P.L. 97-158, 96 Stat. 18-
19
Admiral Hyman George Rickover
June 23, 1982
P.L. 97-201, 96 Stat.
126-127
Fred Waring
August 26, 1982
P.L. 97-246, 96 Stat.
315-316
Joe Louis
August 26, 1982
P.L. 97-246, 96 Stat.
315-316
Louis L'Amour
August 26, 1982
P.L. 97-246, 96 Stat.
315-316
Leo J. Ryan
November 18, 1983 P.L. 98-159, 97 Stat. 992
Danny Thomas
November 29, 1983 P.L. 98-172, 97 Stat.
1119
Harry S. Truman
May 8, 1984
P.L. 98-278, 98 Stat.
173-175
Lady Bird Johnson
May 8, 1984
P.L. 98-278, 98 Stat.
173-175
Elie Wiesel
May 8, 1984
P.L. 98-278, 98 Stat.
173-175
Roy Wilkins
May 17, 1984
P.L. 98-285, 98 Stat. 186
George and Ira Gershwin
August 9, 1985
P.L. 99-86, 99 Stat. 288-
289
Anatoly and Avital Shcharansky
May 13, 1986
P.L. 99-298, 100 Stat.
432-433
Congressional Research Service

22

Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

Date of
Recipient(s)
Enactment
Law
Harry Chapin
May 20, 1986
P.L. 99-311, 100 Stat.
464
Aaron Copland
September 23, 1986 P.L. 99-418, Stat. 952-
953
Mary Lasker
December 24, 1987 P.L. 100-210, 101 Stat.
1441
Jesse Owens
September 20, 1988 P.L. 100-437, 102 Stat.
1717
Andrew Wyeth
November 9, 1988 P.L. 100-639, 102 Stat.
3331-3332
Laurence Spelman Rockefeller
May 17, 1990
P.L. 101-296, 104 Stat.
197-199
General Matthew B. Ridgeway
November 5, 1990 P.L. 101-510, 104 Stat.
1720-1721
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf
April 23, 1991
P.L. 102-32, 105 Stat.
175-176
General Colin Powell
April 23, 1991
P.L. 102-33, 105 Stat.
177-178
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
November 2, 1994 P.L. 103-457, 108 Stat.
4799-4800
Ruth and Bil y Graham
February 13, 1996
P.L. 104-111, 110 Stat.
772-773
Francis Albert “Frank” Sinatra
May 14, 1997
P.L. 105-14, 111 Stat.
32-33
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
June 2, 1997
P.L. 105-16, 111 Stat.
35-36
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
October 6, 1997
P.L. 105-51, 111 Stat.
117-1171
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
July 29, 1998
P.L. 105-215, 112 Stat.
895-896
Little Rock Nine
October 21, 1998
P.L. 105-277, 112 Stat.
2681-597
Gerald R. and Betty Ford
October 21, 1998
P.L. 105-277, 112 Stat.
2681-598
Rosa Parks
May 4, 1999
P.L. 106-26, 113 Stat.
50-51
Theodore M. Hesburgh
December 9, 1999 P.L. 106-153, 113 Stat.
1733-1734
John Cardinal O'Connor
March 3, 2000
P.L. 106-175, 114 Stat.
20-21
Congressional Research Service

23

Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

Date of
Recipient(s)
Enactment
Law
Charles M. Schulz
June 20, 2000
P.L. 106-225, 114 Stat.
457-458
Pope John Paul II
July 27, 2000
P.L. 106-250, 114 Stat.
622-623
Ronald and Nancy Reagan
July 27, 2000
P.L. 106-251, 114 Stat.
624-625
Navajo Code Talkers
December 21, 2000 P.L. 106-554, 114 Stat.
2763
General Henry H. Shelton
January 16, 2002
P.L. 107-127, 115 Stat.
2405-2406
Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
July 17, 2003
P.L. 108-60, 117 Stat.
862-863
Jackie Roosevelt Robinson
October 23, 2003
P.L. 108-101, 117 Stat.
1195-1197
Dr. Dorothy Height
December 6, 2003 P.L. 108-162, 117 Stat.
2017-2019
Reverend Joseph A. DeLaine, Harry and Eliza Briggs, and Levi
December 15, 2003 P.L. 108-180, 117 Stat.
Pearson
2645-2647
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King
October 25, 2004
P.L. 108-368, 118 Stat.
1746-1748
The Tuskegee Airmen
April 11, 2006
P.L. 109-213, 120 Stat.
322
Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama
September 27, 2006 P.L. 109-287, 120 Stat.
1231-1232
Byron Nelson
October 16, 2006
P.L. 109-357, 120 Stat.
2044-2046
Dr. Norman E. Borlaug
December 14, 2006 P.L. 109-395, 120 Stat.
2709
Michael El is DeBakey, M.D.
October 10, 2007
P.L. 110-95, 121 Stat.
1008
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
May 6, 2008
P.L. 110-209, 122 Stat.
721
Constantino Brumidi
July 1, 2008
P.L. 110-259, 122 Stat.
2430-2432
Edward Wil iam Brooke III
July 1, 2008
P.L. 110-260, 122 Stat.
2433-2435
Native American Code Talkers
October 15, 2008
P.L. 110-420, 122 Stat.
4774
Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII (‘WASP’)
July 1, 2009
P.L. 111-40, 123 Stat.
1958
Congressional Research Service

24

Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

Date of
Recipient(s)
Enactment
Law
Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. “Buzz" Aldrin Jr., Michael Col ins, and
August 7, 2009
P.L. 111-44, 123 Stat.
John Herschel Glenn Jr.
1966-1967
Arnold Palmer
September 30, 2009 P.L. 111-65, 123 Stat.
2003
Dr. Muhammad Yunus
October 5, 2010
P.L. 111-253, 124 Stat.
2635
100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the October 5, 2010
P.L. 111-254, 124 Stat.
Military Intelligence Service, United States Army
2637
Montford Point Marines
November 11, 2011 P.L. 112-59, 125 Stat.
751
The Fallen Heroes of 9/11
December 23, 2011 P.L. 112-76, 125 Stat.
1275 and 1276
Raoul Wallenberg
July 26, 2012
P.L. 112-148, 126 Stat.
1140-1143
Addie Mae Col ins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia May 24, 2013
P.L. 113-11, 127 Stat.
Wesley
447
The First Special Service Force, World War II
July 12, 2013
P.L. 113-16,127 Stat.
477
American Fighter Aces
May 23, 2014
P.L. 113-105, 128 Stat.
1159
World War II members of the 17th Bombardment Group known as May 23, 2014
P.L. 113-106, 128 Stat.
“Doolittle Tokyo Raiders"
1160
World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol
May 30, 2014
P.L. 113-108, 128 Stat.
1164
President Shimon Peres
June 9, 2014
P.L. 113-114, 128 Stat.
1175
Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section under the Allied Armies June 9, 2014
P.L. 113-116, 128 Stat.
(Monuments Men)
1179
65th Infantry Regiment, United States Army, known as the
June 10, 2014
P.L. 113-120, 128 Stat.
Borinqueneers
1183
Jack Nicklaus
December 16, 2014 P.L. 113-210, 128 Stat.
2077
Foot Soldiers who participated in Bloody Sunday, Turnaround
March 7, 2015
P.L. 114-5, 129 Stat. 78
Tuesday, or the final Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March in
March of 1965
Filipino Veterans of World War II
December 14, 2016 P.L. 114-265, 130 Stat.
1376
Office of Strategic Services
December 14, 2016 P.L. 114-269, 130 Stat.
1391
Congressional Research Service

25

Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

Date of
Recipient(s)
Enactment
Law
Bob Dole
September 15, 2017 P.L. 115-60, 131 Stat.
1154
Anwar Sadat
December 13, 2018 P.L. 115-310, 132 Stat.
4424
Larry Doby
December 17, 2018 P.L. 115-322, 132 Stat.
4440
Chinese-American World War II Veterans
December 20, 2018 P.L. 115-337, 132 Stat.
5029
USS Indianapolis
December 20, 2018 P.L. 115-338, 132 Stat.
5033
Stephen Michael Gleason
January 3, 2019
P.L. 115-415, 132 Stat.
5433
Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary November 8, 2019
P.L. 116-68, 133 Stat.
Jackson (NASA Hidden Figures)a
1129
United States Merchant Mariners of World War II
March 13, 2020
P.L. 116-125, 134 Stat.
171
Merril ’s Marauders (5307th Composite Unit [Provisional])
October 17, 2020
P.L. 116-170, 134 Stat.
775
Rosie the Riveter
December 3, 2020
P.L. 116-195, 134 Stat.
984
Greg LeMond
December 4, 2020
P.L. 116-208, 134 Stat.
1008
Capitol Police and those who Protected the Capitol on January 6,
August 5, 2021
P.L. 117-32, 135 Stat.
2021
322
Harlem Hellfighters in World War I (369th Infantry Regiment)
August 25, 2021
P.L. 117-38, 135 Stat.
333
Servicemembers who Perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021
December 16, 2021 P.L. 117-72, 135 Stat.
1511
Wil ie O’Ree
January 31, 2022
P.L. 117-84, 136 Stat. 8
Ghost Army (23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd
February 1, 2022
P.L. 117-85, 136 Stat. 11
Signal Services Company)
Women’s Army Corps Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory
March 14, 2022
P.L. 117-97, 136 Stat. 36
Battalion
United States Army Rangers of World War II
June 7, 2022
P.L. 117-132, 136 Stat.
1232
Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean
December 22, 2022 P.L. 117-256, 136 Stat.
Smith
2368
Hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981
December 27, 2022 P.L. 117-320, 136 Stat.
4426
Congressional Research Service

26

Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress

Benjamin Berell Ferencz
December 29, 2022 P.L. 117-328, Title VII
Emmett Til and Mamie Til -Mobley
January 5, 2023
P.L. 117-334, 136 Stat.
6140
Source: CRS analysis of “Congressional Gold Medal” legislation.
Note:
a P.L. 117-103 (Title 4, §401, 136 Stat. 1113 [2022]) amended the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act
to provide that the Gold Medal “awarded in honor of Katherine Johnson .. shall be given to her daughter,
Katherine Goble Moore.”

Author Information

Jacob R. Straus

Specialist on the Congress

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
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