Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8282
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-14: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-20T23:35:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to posthumously recognize Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl for his efforts to rescue Jewish people during World War II by awarding him a Congressional Gold Medal.
Key Provisions
- Findings: The bill lists specific actions by Rabbi Weissmandl, including:
- Establishing an underground "Working Group" to raise funds and negotiate delays in deportations.
- Obtaining visas from contacts in England to protect people of Jewish ancestry.
- Sending telegrams to raise awareness of the Holocaust and proposing actions like bombing railroad tunnels.
- Documenting accounts from Auschwitz escapees in the "Auschwitz Protocols" and translating them.
- Making the first known appeal for Allied air resources to disrupt the Holocaust.
- Informing others that deportations led to murder rather than resettlement.
- Assisting in the Solomon Schoenfeld Kindertransport rescue.
- Founding a Yeshiva in the United States after the war for Holocaust survivors, which influenced later institutions.
- Medal Authorization: Directs the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate to present a gold medal of appropriate design to the rabbi's representatives.
- Design and Production: The Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for striking the medal with suitable inscriptions.
- Transfer: The medal is to be given to Samuel Dovid Weissmandl or, if unavailable, to Rabbi Menachem Meir Weissmandl.
- Duplicates: Allows the Treasury to produce and sell bronze copies at cost.
- Classification: Designates the medal as a national medal under existing federal rules for numismatic items.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill does not alter existing statutes in a broad way. It applies current rules from title 31 of the U.S. Code regarding national medals and numismatic items to authorize one specific gold medal and its bronze duplicates.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires the Department of the Treasury to design, strike, and manage the sale of medals, potentially involving administrative costs and resources.
- Citizens: Provides public recognition of historical rescue efforts, with options for individuals to purchase bronze duplicates.
- International Relations: Highlights U.S. acknowledgment of World War II rescue activities in Europe, which could support ongoing Holocaust education and remembrance efforts without direct diplomatic effects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Family members and representatives of Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl, including the Weissmandl Committee and specified relatives who will receive the medal.
- The U.S. Congress, which authorizes and presents the award.
- The Department of the Treasury, tasked with production and distribution.
- Jewish communities and historical organizations interested in World War II rescue efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The award follows standard congressional procedures for honoring individuals, with no apparent conflicts with constitutional limits on legislative powers.
- It emphasizes bipartisan recognition of valor during the Holocaust, potentially influencing public discourse on historical events and survivor legacies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-14: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2026-04-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-14 — PDF (5 pages)