[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3287 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3287
To award a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the recipients of
assistance under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (commonly
referred to as the ``GI Bill of Rights'') in recognition of the great
contributions such recipients made to the Nation in both their military
and civilian service and the contributions of Harry W. Colmery in
initiating actions which led to the enactment of that Act, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 29, 2010
Mr. Brownback (for himself, Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Begich) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the recipients of
assistance under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (commonly
referred to as the ``GI Bill of Rights'') in recognition of the great
contributions such recipients made to the Nation in both their military
and civilian service and the contributions of Harry W. Colmery in
initiating actions which led to the enactment of that Act, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Achievements of the GI Bill Gold
Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The life of Harry W. Colmery of Topeka, Kansas, was
marked by exemplary service to his country.
(2) Harry Colmery served the United States with distinction
during World War I as a first lieutenant and pilot instructor
in the Army Air Corps.
(3) Upon his return, Harry Colmery remained involved in
issues important to the United States Armed Forces and veterans
community through the American Legion, serving as the national
commander of the American Legion from 1936 to 1937.
(4) In 1943, the United States faced an unprecedented
number of servicemen and women returning from World War II to
civilian life, more than 15,000,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen,
and Marines.
(5) Harry Colmery, and others with the American Legion,
helped spearhead efforts to ensure that government programs
were in place to ensure that these members of the United States
Armed Forces would face an easy transition back to civilian
life.
(6) During a December 1943 emergency meeting of American
Legion leadership to address these concerns at the Mayflower
Hotel in Washington, DC, Harry Colmery crafted the initial
draft of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, also known
as the ``GI Bill of Rights''.
(7) This pioneering piece of legislation sought to help GIs
buy homes, start businesses, and attend college or technical
school upon their return from World War II.
(8) Due to Harry Colmery's advocacy, President Franklin D.
Roosevelt signed the GI Bill of Rights into law on June 22,
1944.
(9) In the decade following World War II, more than
2,000,000 eligible men and women went to college using the GI
Bill of Rights, and another 5,000,000 received other schooling
or job training under the GI Bill.
(10) From 1944 to 1952, the Veterans Administration backed
nearly 2,400,000 home loans for World War II veterans due to
the GI Bill of Rights.
(11) The GI Bill of Rights has been heralded as one of the
most significant pieces of legislation ever produced by the
Federal Government, one that has impacted the United States
socially, economically, and politically.
SEC. 3. 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 single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of the recipients
of assistance under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (commonly
referred to as the ``GI Bill of Rights''), in recognition of the great
contributions such recipients made to the Nation in both their military
and civilian service and the contributions of Harry W. Colmery in
initiating actions which led to the enactment of that Act.
(b) Design and Striking.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Obverse and reverse.--The obverse of the gold medal
shall bear the image of Harry W. Colmery and the reverse shall
bear a design emblematic of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act
of 1944 and the achievements of the recipients of assistance
under such Act.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in
honor of the recipients of assistance under the Servicemen's
Readjustment Act of 1944 under subsection (a), the gold medal
shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be
available for display as appropriate and made available for
research.
(2) Sense of the congress.--It is the sense of the Congress
that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal
received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere,
particularly at other appropriate locations selected by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, or the
Secretary of Education.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 2 under such regulations as the
Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The 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,
Unites States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. 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 stuck
pursuant to this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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