North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1502
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-21: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T08:05:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to honor the volunteers and communities who supported the North Platte Canteen in Nebraska during World War II by awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal. The canteen was a major volunteer effort that provided food, hospitality, and morale-boosting services to approximately 6 million U.S. troops passing through from December 25, 1941, to April 1, 1946, without federal funding.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Congress recognizes the canteen's historical significance, including its origins in late 1941, the involvement of over 55,000 volunteers (mostly women) from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas, the scale of daily operations (serving up to 24 troop trains), donations of food and cash totaling $137,000, and prior honors like a 1943 U.S. Army award and a 2004 congressional resolution.
- Medal Authorization (Section 3): Directs the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange a presentation of a single gold medal to the collective group of volunteers and donors. The Secretary of the Treasury designs and strikes the medal with appropriate symbols. After presentation, the medal is given to the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska, for display and research.
- Duplicate Medals (Section 4): Allows the Secretary to produce and sell bronze duplicates at cost to cover production expenses (e.g., labor, materials).
- Legal Status of Medals (Section 5): Classifies the medals as "national medals" under U.S. law (for official recognition) and "numismatic items" (collectible coins or medals subject to specific sales rules).
- Funding (Section 6): Authorizes use of the U.S. Mint's public enterprise fund for production costs, with sales proceeds returned to the fund.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new authority for a specific Congressional Gold Medal, without amending prior laws. It builds on existing frameworks for national medals under Title 31 of the U.S. Code (which governs money and finance) by designating these as official items, but it does not alter broader medal-awarding processes used for other historical recognitions.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Mint and Treasury Department will handle design, production, and sales, using existing funds with no additional taxpayer burden. Congress coordinates the ceremonial presentation, which is symbolic and low-cost.
- On Citizens: Provides national recognition for WWII-era volunteers and their descendants, potentially boosting local pride and tourism in North Platte, Nebraska. Bronze duplicates allow public access to commemorative items.
- On International Relations: None; the bill focuses on domestic WWII home-front efforts with no foreign policy elements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Volunteers and Donors: Individuals and communities from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas who contributed to the canteen (primarily women from 125 communities); the award is collective and posthumous for most.
- Lincoln County Historical Museum: Receives and maintains the gold medal for public display and education.
- U.S. Government Entities: Congress (for presentation), U.S. Mint and Treasury (for production and sales).
- Local Communities: Residents of North Platte and surrounding areas, who may benefit from heightened awareness of their historical role.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with Congress's constitutional power (Article I, Section 8) to recognize achievements through medals, treating this as a non-monetary honor. No enforcement mechanisms or rights are created; it's purely commemorative.
- Constitutional: No issues; the bill respects separation of powers by assigning ceremonial roles to legislative leaders and execution to the executive branch (Treasury).
- Political: Introduced by Nebraska representatives, it highlights bipartisan support for recognizing Midwest WWII contributions, potentially fostering goodwill in rural areas. It continues a tradition of gold medals for historical groups (e.g., similar awards for Tuskegee Airmen or Japanese American regiments), emphasizing patriotism without partisan debate.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (85)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Smith, Jason [R-MO-8], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21], Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8], Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10] and 35 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-21: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-02-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act — issued 2025-02-21 — PDF (6 pages)