James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1933

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Arts, Culture, Religion

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-06: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Last Updated

2025-12-16T09:05:42Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation, titled the "James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act," aims to posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to James Earl Jones, recognizing his lifetime achievements as an actor and advocate who reshaped perceptions in film and theatre, broke down racial barriers, and promoted equal opportunities for people from all backgrounds.

Key Provisions

• Findings (Section 2): Congress outlines James Earl Jones' life story, including his childhood stutter overcome through poetry, military service as an Army officer, early career struggles in New York, Broadway debut in 1957, notable roles (e.g., in The Great White Hope, The Lion King as Mufasa, and Star Wars as Darth Vader), awards (including EGOT status—Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), and honors like the National Medal of the Arts and Kennedy Center Honors. It highlights his resilience and contributions to cultural representation.
• Medal Presentation (Section 3): Authorizes the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange a posthumous presentation of a gold medal to James Earl Jones. The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury designs and strikes the medal with emblems, devices, and inscriptions, including Jones' image and name. After presentation, the medal goes to his son, Flynn Earl Jones.
• Duplicate Medals (Section 4): Permits the Secretary of the Treasury to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal at a price covering production costs (e.g., labor, materials).
• Medal Status (Section 5): Classifies the medals as national medals under U.S. law (chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code, which governs national medals) and as numismatic items (collectible coins or medals) under sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, allowing legal sale and distribution.
• Funding (Section 6): Uses funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund to cover costs; proceeds from bronze duplicate sales return to this fund.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill does not amend or repeal prior laws but authorizes a new, specific instance of awarding a Congressional Gold Medal under existing statutory frameworks for such honors (e.g., 31 U.S.C. § 5111 for national medals). It follows precedents for similar recognitions of cultural figures but adds unique details tailored to James Earl Jones.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The U.S. Mint and Department of the Treasury will handle design, production, and sales with minimal additional burden, as costs are covered by existing funds and duplicate sales. Congress coordinates the presentation ceremony.
• Citizens: Symbolically honors Jones' legacy, potentially inspiring greater diversity in the arts; bronze duplicates may be available for public purchase as collectibles, generating modest revenue for the Mint.
• International Relations: No direct impact, though Jones' global fame (e.g., in Star Wars and The Lion King) could subtly enhance U.S. cultural soft power.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Family: Flynn Earl Jones receives the gold medal, directly benefiting from the posthumous honor.
• Arts and Entertainment Community: Actors, filmmakers, and theatre professionals gain recognition of Jones' barrier-breaking work, promoting inclusion.
• Government Entities: U.S. Congress (for presentation), U.S. Mint/Treasury (for production and sales).
• Public and Collectors: Individuals interested in history or numismatics may purchase bronze duplicates.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Aligns with Congress's constitutional power (Article I, Section 8) to coin money and regulate its value, extending to national medals as symbolic honors. No challenges anticipated, as it uses established procedures for Congressional Gold Medals (over 180 awarded historically).
• Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's role in recognizing civilian achievements without infringing on executive powers.
• Political: Introduced bipartisanship (by Rep. Lawler and Rep. Torres of New York) on March 6, 2025, and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services; passage would signal unified appreciation for cultural icons, potentially fostering goodwill across political divides without controversy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

Cosponsors (47)

Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-06: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
• 2025-03-06: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-06: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act — issued 2025-03-06 — PDF (6 pages)