Overview
Title
An Act To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Billie Jean King, an American icon, in recognition of a remarkable life devoted to championing equal rights for all, in sports and in society.
ELI5 AI
This bill wants to give a special shiny medal to Billie Jean King because she worked hard to make sure boys and girls get treated the same, especially in sports. They also plan to make and sell copies of the medal to help pay for the costs.
Summary AI
S. 2861 is a bill that seeks to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Billie Jean King for her significant contributions to advancing equal rights for women in sports and society. The bill acknowledges her achievements as a tennis player and her role in advocating for gender equality, including her efforts in supporting Title IX, lobbying for equal prize money in tennis, and her influential leadership in various women's organizations. The design and production of the medal are assigned to the Secretary of the Treasury, who may create duplicate medals for sale to cover production costs. Moreover, any proceeds from the sale of duplicate medals will go to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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AnalysisAI
An Overview of the Billie Jean King Congressional Gold Medal Act
The Billie Jean King Congressional Gold Medal Act is a legislative proposal designed to honor Billie Jean King for her extensive contributions to sports and society as a whole. Born in 1943, the acclaimed tennis player and activist used her success in sports to champion equal rights, particularly for women in sports and education. Through her efforts, King played a significant role in advancing gender equality, like pushing for equal prize money in tennis tournaments and influencing the enactment of Title IX, which ensures equal funding for male and female sports programs in educational institutions. This bill seeks to award her a Congressional Gold Medal, acknowledging her lifelong commitment to equal rights.
Key Issues Raised by the Bill
There are several issues highlighted in the bill regarding its structure and the processes it establishes:
Favoritism Concerns: By focusing the recognition on a single individual, the bill might be seen as having favoritism. Some might argue that honoring an individual without a competitive or standardized selection process can lead to political or ethical criticisms.
Ambiguity in Medal Design: The bill lacks clear criteria for determining the design of the gold medal, which can lead to misunderstandings or disagreements over its final appearance and the symbolic elements it contains.
Financial Concerns: The absence of a spending cap for costs charged to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund poses potential concerns regarding budget overruns and unnecessary spending.
Sale of Duplicate Medals: The bill is vague about the process and criteria for selling duplicate bronze medals. Without clarity, there could be potential accusations of favoritism or lack of transparency.
Lack of Defined Oversight: There is no mention of any oversight mechanism to ensure transparent pricing and distribution of the medals, which could lead to financial mismanagement or public scrutiny.
Terminology and Roles: Terms like "numismatic items" and roles related to who strikes the medals are not thoroughly explained, potentially leading to confusion.
Potential Impact on the Public
The general public might view the act as a positive celebration of a pioneer in both sports and equality movements. However, some may question the financial implications and the selection process for such honors, considering whether resources should be allocated for other significant societal issues. The broad recognition might inspire further conversations on gender equality, encouraging more progress in other sectors.
Effects on Specific Stakeholders
For sports enthusiasts and activists, this act can represent an important recognition of how sports can influence broader societal change, serving as a motivational symbol for continued activism. Meanwhile, taxpayers might view the potential for unchecked spending as a concern, especially if they feel that funds could be better allocated elsewhere.
For government oversight agencies, the bill’s lack of defined processes and oversight mechanisms could mean an additional burden to ensure transparency and accountability, thus necessitating closer scrutiny during implementation.
Overall, while the Billie Jean King Congressional Gold Medal Act seeks to honor an individual with a remarkable legacy, its structural ambiguities and financial considerations raise significant questions that merit careful deliberation.
Issues
The bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Billie Jean King, which could be criticized for favoritism towards an individual rather than recognizing broader contributions to society or sports. There may be political or ethical concerns regarding the selection criteria. (Section 3)
The text does not specify clear criteria for determining the 'appropriate design' of the gold medal, which could lead to ambiguities or disagreements during its creation and approval process. This lack of clarity could result in financial or administrative challenges. (Section 3)
There is potential for wasteful spending due to the lack of a cap on the amount that can be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund for the costs of the medals, which might be seen as a financial concern if the costs are excessive. (Section 6)
The bill does not specify where or to whom the duplicate bronze medals will be sold, leading to potential concerns about favoritism or lack of transparency in the sales process. Without this information, the process might appear biased or unfair. (Section 4)
There is no oversight or accountability mechanism mentioned for ensuring that the pricing of the bronze duplicate medals adequately covers costs, which could result in financial mismanagement or public scrutiny regarding the transparency of fund usage. (Sections 4 and 6)
The term 'overhead expenses' in relation to the cost of the medals is vague and broadly interpretable, potentially leading to unnecessary or excessive spending. Such ambiguity can be problematic from a financial accountability perspective. (Section 4)
The bill does not specify who is responsible for striking the medals, nor does it mention any financial implications, leading to potential administrative ambiguities or challenges during implementation. (Section 5)
The definition and clarification of 'numismatic items' and 'national medals' are not clearly provided within the bill, which could lead to confusion and misinterpretation without referencing specific code sections adequately. This might have legal or regulatory implications. (Section 5)
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 name of the act is the “Billie Jean King Congressional Gold Medal Act.”
2. Findings Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Congress recognizes the significant achievements of Billie Jean King, highlighting her success as a tennis champion and her pivotal role in fighting for gender equality in sports. They commend her for her activism in advocating for equal pay, founding the Women’s Tennis Association, and her overall influence in promoting women's rights both on and off the tennis court.
3. Congressional gold medal Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange the presentation of a Congressional gold medal to Billie Jean King for her efforts in promoting equal rights for women. The Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for designing and striking the medal, which will feature Billie Jean King's image and name.
4. Duplicate medals Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary is authorized to create and sell bronze copies of a gold medal, ensuring the sales price covers all related costs such as labor, materials, and machinery use.
5. Status of medals Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Medals created under this law are considered national medals and are also classified as numismatic items, following specific sections of the United States Code.
6. Authority to use fund amounts; proceeds of sale Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section provides that the U.S. Mint can use funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund to cover the costs of making medals. Additionally, money earned from selling bronze duplicates of these medals must be put back into the same fund.