Overview
Title
To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell in recognition of their extraordinary bravery and steadfast devotion to the Nation during the Civil War as the only civilian members of Andrews’ Raiders, who launched a daring military raid that became known as the Great Locomotive Chase.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to give a special gold medal to two brave men from the Civil War, James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell, for their courageous actions in a risky train adventure, and the medal will go to a museum for people to see.
Summary AI
H.R. 9386 proposes to award the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell, recognizing their bravery as civilian members of Andrews’ Raiders during the Civil War. The bill details their involvement in the daring military raid known as the "Great Locomotive Chase" and their ultimate capture and execution. The gold medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display, and duplicates in bronze may be sold. The Act outlines that these medals are considered national and numismatic items and permits the use of United States Mint funds for their costs.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill under consideration, referred to as "H. R. 9386," aims to honor two civilians, James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell, for their bravery during the Civil War. These individuals were part of Andrews’ Raiders, a group that executed a military operation known as the "Great Locomotive Chase." The bill proposes to posthumously award them the Congressional Gold Medal collectively in recognition of their exceptional courage and dedication to the nation. The medal will also become part of the Smithsonian Institution's collection for display and research.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several key issues arise with this bill. Firstly, the financial implications of creating a single Congressional Gold Medal are notable. The bill lacks specific provisions to ensure cost-effectiveness, and while recognizing historical valor is significant, there should be careful consideration of fiscal responsibility.
Moreover, the bill mandates that the gold medal be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, specifically at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Museum. This could lead to questions about favoritism toward one institution, possibly excluding others from the opportunity to display the medal.
Additionally, the bill contains vague language about loaning the medal for other exhibitions, without clear criteria or guidelines for the decision-making process. This ambiguity might result in inconsistencies in how such loans are handled.
Further, the bill permits the production and sale of duplicate bronze medals only at cost, which could be a missed opportunity for revenue generation if there is a significant interest in these replicas. There's also a lack of oversight regarding how production costs and pricing are calculated, which may affect fiscal transparency.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
Broadly, the bill highlights a historical event that might not be widely known, thus providing an educational opportunity for the public and encouraging interest in Civil War history. By awarding the Congressional Gold Medal, the bill recognizes the bravery of individuals who were somewhat overlooked by history, thereby correcting a historical oversight.
For specific stakeholders, museums and historians might benefit from increased public interest in the Great Locomotive Chase, potentially leading to higher museum visitation and increased attention to related historical exhibits.
On the other hand, the focus on a single museum, as specified in the bill, might limit other institutions’ opportunities to benefit from showcasing the medal, which could be seen as an unfair distribution of resources or recognition.
Furthermore, if the bill does not adequately address fiscal responsibility in the production and sale of medals, it might garner criticism regarding the use of public funds, especially if the costs are higher than anticipated or if there are inefficiencies in its implementation. This could impact perceptions of government spending, affecting broader public trust in how funds are managed.
Issues
The authorization of a single Congressional gold medal in Section 3 involves costs related to its design, striking, and presentation. While recognizing bravery, the financial necessity and cost-effectiveness of creating a unique medal for this historical event should be evaluated to ensure responsible fiscal management.
Section 3's mandate that the medal be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, specifically at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Museum, may unfairly favor this institution over other possible venues, raising potential concerns about equitable representation of such historical artifacts.
The vague language in Section 3(c)(2)(B) regarding the 'loan, as appropriate' of the gold medal can create issues in establishing clear criteria or decision-making processes for such loans. This ambiguity could potentially lead to inconsistencies or preferential treatment based on subjective decisions.
In Section 4, the provision allowing the Secretary to strike and sell duplicate bronze medals solely at cost may result in a missed revenue opportunity. This could be financially significant if there exists a demand beyond merely covering production costs, warranting consideration for potential revenue generation.
The lack of oversight or accountability mechanisms in Section 4 with regards to how the costs are calculated or how the pricing of bronze duplicates will be monitored may lead to inefficiencies or discrepancies, impacting fiscal transparency.
Section 5 uses specific legal references without explanation, which may be unclear to readers unfamiliar with legal terminology. This lack of clarity could lead to misunderstanding about the implications or obligations tied to the designation of medals as 'national medals' and 'numismatic items'.
The text of Section 5 does not provide details on the criteria or process for determining which medals are struck under this Act, potentially leading to ambiguities or lack of transparency about how the decisions are made, which may be significant for transparency and governance.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. SHORT TITLE Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section states that the official title of this Act is the “James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell Congressional Gold Medal Act”.
2. FINDINGS Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Congress acknowledges events surrounding Andrews’ Raiders, led by James J. Andrews, who attempted to disrupt Confederate supply lines during the Civil War by stealing a locomotive. They highlight the bravery of Andrews and William Hunter Campbell, the awards given, the eventual execution of some Raiders, and how their actions have been commemorated in history and media.
3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines that Congress will present a specially designed gold medal to honor James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell for their bravery during the Civil War. After the medal is awarded, it will be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with the suggestion that it be shown at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Museum and possibly loaned for exhibitions elsewhere.
4. DUPLICATE MEDALS Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary is authorized to produce and sell bronze duplicates of a specific gold medal, making sure the sale price covers all associated production costs, such as materials and labor.
5. STATUS OF MEDALS Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Medals created under this Act are recognized as national medals according to U.S. law. They are also classified as numismatic items, which are collectible coins or medals, under certain sections of the U.S. Code.
6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section grants permission to use funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund to cover the costs of producing medals. It also specifies that money made from selling bronze duplicates of these medals will go back into the same fund.