Overview

Title

An Act To award posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm.

ELI5 AI

S. 4243 is a bill that says they want to give a special gold medal to Shirley Chisholm as a way to say thank you for being amazing, because she was the first African-American woman in Congress and ran for President. This medal will be shown in a museum, and they might make some more to sell, but some people worry it's not clear how much everything will cost.

Summary AI

S. 4243 is a bill that posthumously awards the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm, recognizing her achievements as the first African-American woman elected to Congress and her historic run for the Presidency. The bill details the process for designing and presenting the gold medal to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research purposes. Additionally, it allows for the creation and sale of duplicate bronze medals, with proceeds supporting the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

Published

2024-12-06
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Enrolled Bill
Date: 2024-12-06
Package ID: BILLS-118s4243enr

Keywords AI

shirley chisholm congressional gold medal posthumous recognition african-american woman u.s. mint public enterprise fund civil rights bronze duplicate medals smithsonian institution women's rights fiscal responsibility

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
6
Words:
878
Pages:
3
Sentences:
24

Language

Nouns: 295
Verbs: 58
Adjectives: 43
Adverbs: 3
Numbers: 37
Entities: 100

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.32
Average Sentence Length:
36.58
Token Entropy:
4.96
Readability (ARI):
20.82

AnalysisAI

Overview of the Bill

The proposed legislation, titled the "Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act," aims to posthumously honor Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress, with a Congressional Gold Medal. The bill outlines various noteworthy accomplishments of Chisholm, including her significant contributions to civil rights, women's rights, and her historic candidacy for the presidency in 1972. This commendable recognition will involve the design and creation of a gold medal by the Secretary of the Treasury, which will subsequently be housed at the Smithsonian Institution.

Significant Issues Raised by the Bill

Several notable issues emerge from this legislative proposal:

  1. Undefined Costs and Government Spending: The bill does not specify the costs associated with producing and presenting the gold medal, raising potential concerns about undefined governmental spending. Without financial limitations, the production could lead to unexpected budget overruns.

  2. Vagueness in Medal Design and Display: There is a lack of detailed criteria for the "appropriate design" of the medal, which could result in subjective interpretations and potentially unsatisfactory outcomes. Additionally, the Smithsonian Institution is advised to display the medal "elsewhere," but the lack of specificity regarding locations or events could lead to unclear implementation.

  3. Ambiguity with Duplicates and Proceeds Management: The provision that allows the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the gold medal raises questions about its necessity and potential government waste. Moreover, the handling of proceeds from these sales is not explicitly outlined, presenting accountability concerns.

Potential Impact on the Public and Specific Stakeholders

The bill has significant cultural and commemorative potential, as it honors an important political figure whose contributions deserve recognition. Such a legislative move not only underscores the importance of diversity and inclusion in political leadership but also serves as an educational tool that could inspire future generations.

Positive Impacts

  • Historical and Cultural Recognition: By awarding this medal to Shirley Chisholm, Congress acknowledges her pivotal role in history and politics. This may encourage ongoing conversations about African American leaders and women's roles in society, potentially inspiring future leadership among these groups.

  • Promotion of Diversity and Inclusivity: This recognition highlights the progress made in American politics and might encourage continuing efforts towards inclusivity and equality.

Negative Impacts

  • Financial Concerns: The potential for undefined expenses could provoke criticism regarding fiscal responsibility, especially if the medal and its duplicates incur significant costs without clear public demand.

  • Oversight and Management: Without clarity on the management of funds and proceeds from the sale of duplicates, there may be concerns about transparency and financial oversight, potentially impacting public trust in government processes.

While the bill is likely to receive broad support due to its positive intent and historical significance, careful consideration and amendment addressing issues like cost definition, design criteria, and funds management could enhance its implementation and reception.

Issues

  • The bill authorizes the presentation of a gold medal to honor Shirley Chisholm, which while commemorative, may be perceived as prioritizing recognition of an individual without clear criteria for selection or relevance to current legislative priorities. (Section 3)

  • Potential issue of wasteful government spending, as there is no limit or cap mentioned on the amount that can be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund for the costs of the medals. This could lead to undefined financial commitments. (Section 6)

  • The bill does not specify the cost of striking and presenting the gold medal, leaving potential for undefined government spending. This lack of specificity could lead to budget overruns. (Section 3)

  • The provision allows for the striking and selling of duplicate medals in bronze, which could be seen as unnecessary if there is no clear demand or purpose for the duplicates. This raises questions about potential government waste. (Section 4)

  • There is a lack of detailed criteria or specifications for what the 'appropriate design' of the gold medal should entail, which could lead to subjective interpretation by the Secretary of the Treasury. This vagueness could result in disagreements or dissatisfaction with the final design. (Section 3)

  • The language regarding the Smithsonian Institution making the gold medal available for display 'elsewhere' is vague and could benefit from specifying potential locations or events, leading to unclear implementation or expectations. (Section 3)

  • The section makes references to specific sections of the United States Code (chapter 51 of title 31, sections 5134 and 5136) without summarizing the implications, potentially making it difficult for readers unfamiliar with the code to understand its impact. This could lead to misunderstandings about the legal context of the medals. (Section 5)

  • There is no specific mention of how funds from the sale of duplicate medals will be managed, which could lead to accountability issues or misuse of proceeds. This lack of transparency is concerning from an oversight perspective. (Section 4)

  • The phrase 'made available for research' related to the gold medal's display in the Smithsonian is unclear in its intent and purpose, since the function of a commemorative medal in research is not immediately obvious. This vagueness could lead to interpretative challenges or misaligned expectations. (Section 3)

  • The text does not specify any oversight or review mechanism to ensure the appropriate use of funds and proceeds from the sale of duplicate medals, raising concerns about fiscal responsibility. (Section 6)

  • Ambiguity regarding the specific criteria or process through which the amounts necessary for the costs of the medals are determined, which could lead to unregulated expenditures. (Section 6)

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 first section of the Act states that it can be referred to as the "Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act."

2. Findings Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section highlights the significant accomplishments and impact of Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress. It notes her role in advancing political opportunities for African Americans and women, her groundbreaking campaign for the presidency in 1972, and her efforts in civil rights and women's rights throughout her career in politics.

3. Congressional gold medal Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Congress has authorized the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for a gold medal to be awarded posthumously to Shirley Chisholm. The medal, designed by the Secretary of the Treasury, will later be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution and possibly shared at other related events or locations.

4. Duplicate medals Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The Secretary is allowed to create and sell copies of a gold medal in bronze. The price of these bronze duplicates must be enough to cover all costs, including materials and labor.

5. Status of medals Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Medals made under this law are considered national medals according to U.S. law, and they are also considered to be collectible items known as numismatic items.

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.