This bill directs Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion, known as the "Black Panthers," in recognition of their service in the European Theater of World War II. The Secretary of the Treasury will strike a gold medal. The medal will be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for display and research. The Secretary may also strike and sell bronze duplicate medals to cover costs. The United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund may be charged for medal production costs, and proceeds from duplicate sales are to be deposited into that fund.
If passed, the 761st Tank Battalion would receive an official national honor from Congress. The original gold medal would be placed with the National Museum of African American History and Culture and could be shown at other locations tied to the battalion. The Mint may sell bronze copies to cover production expenses.
The bill authorizes charging necessary production costs to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. It allows the sale of bronze duplicates at a price to cover labor, materials, dies, machinery use, and overhead. No specific dollar amounts are included in the bill text.
The bill's findings state the 761st was the first predominantly Black American armored battalion in the European Theater, served under General Patton, fought in major battles including the Battle of the Bulge and at Bastogne, endured high casualties, and later received a Presidential Unit Citation in 1978. Proponents seek to recognize the battalion's bravery, contributions to Allied success, and the historical injustices its members faced.
No publicly available information.