Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2784
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-17T13:24:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, titled the "Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025," aims to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Constance Baker Motley. The medal recognizes her lifelong contributions to civil rights, public service, and the judiciary in the United States, honoring her role as a trailblazing African-American woman who advanced equality and justice.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Outlines Motley's biography and achievements, including:
- Her birth in 1921 in New Haven, Connecticut, to Caribbean immigrants.
- Education at New York University (B.A. in economics, 1943) and Columbia University (law degree, 1946).
- Work as a staff attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), where she helped argue the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case (1954) and won nine out of ten Supreme Court cases on civil rights.
- Political milestones: First African-American woman elected to the New York State Senate (1964) and first woman (and African-American) to serve as Manhattan Borough President (1965).
- Judicial career: Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson as the first African-American woman federal judge (1966) on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; became Chief Judge in 1982; served until her death in 2005.
- Note of her 100th birth anniversary in 2021 and surviving family.
- Congressional Gold Medal Authorization:
- The Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate arrange a posthumous presentation of a gold medal to Motley's son, Joel Motley III, and niece, Constance Royster.
- The Secretary of the Treasury designs and strikes the medal, featuring Motley's image and name with suitable emblems.
- After presentation, the medal is given to Joel Motley III.
- Duplicate Medals: The Treasury Secretary may produce and sell bronze duplicates to cover production costs (labor, materials, etc.).
- Legal Status of Medals:
- All medals are classified as national medals under U.S. law (chapter 51 of title 31), allowing official recognition.
- They are treated as numismatic items (collectible coins or medals) under section 5134 of title 31.
- Funding: Costs are covered by the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund; proceeds from bronze duplicate sales return to this fund.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces no amendments to prior laws. It follows established congressional procedures for awarding gold medals (a non-monetary honor authorized under Congress's constitutional powers). It adds Motley to the list of recipients, such as Thurgood Marshall, without altering medal statutes or processes.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Treasury and Mint handle design, production, and sales, incurring minor costs offset by duplicate sales. Congress coordinates the ceremony, promoting historical recognition.
- Citizens: Symbolic impact by celebrating civil rights history, potentially inspiring education and public awareness of Motley's legacy in fighting segregation and advancing women's and minority rights. No direct financial or regulatory effects on the public.
- International Relations: Negligible; the bill focuses on domestic contributions, though Motley's immigrant heritage may highlight U.S. values of inclusion.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Family: Direct recipients Joel Motley III (son, who receives the medal) and Constance Royster (niece, who attends presentation).
- Government Entities: Congress (bipartisan sponsors including Sens. Blumenthal, Collins, Schumer, and others), U.S. Treasury, and U.S. Mint.
- Civil Rights and Historical Groups: Organizations like the NAACP LDF benefit indirectly through elevated recognition of Motley's work.
- Public and Educators: Broader society, as the honor preserves her story for future generations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Adheres to precedents for congressional medals, ensuring the award is ceremonial and not judicially binding. Classifies medals under existing coinage laws for proper handling.
- Constitutional: Exercises Congress's enumerated power (Article I, Section 8) to recognize distinguished service, reinforcing the legislative branch's role in honoring national figures without executive or judicial involvement.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (over 25 cosponsors from both parties), signaling unity on civil rights tributes. It underscores ongoing recognition of underrepresented historical figures, potentially influencing future honors for women and minorities in law and politics.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Cosponsors (29)
Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (6 pages)