American Rescuers of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4868
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T06:53:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4868: American Rescuers of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2026
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to collectively recognize United States citizens who rescued or aided Jews and other refugees during the Nazi regime's "Final Solution" policy from 1933 to 1945. The medal honors their efforts, which saved tens of thousands from death, and acknowledges related U.S. organizations and relief work despite public and governmental opposition at the time.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Findings Section: Details historical context, including U.S. groups saving thousands of refugees across Europe, the War Refugee Board's role in saving 200,000 Jews and 20,000 non-Jews, dangers faced by rescuers (including arrests and deaths), post-war resettlement aid, and examples of U.S. resistance to refugee intake (such as rejecting 20,000 Jewish children in 1939 and the S.S. St. Louis incident).
- Medal Award: The President pro tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House arrange for the award of one gold medal of suitable design, struck by the Secretary of the Treasury with appropriate emblems and inscriptions.
- Recipient and Display: The medal is presented to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for display and research, with a sense of Congress encouraging its availability at other Holocaust commemoration sites.
- Duplicates: The Secretary may produce and sell bronze duplicates at a cost-covering price.
- Funding and Status: Costs are charged to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund; sale proceeds return to the same fund. The medals are designated as national medals under relevant U.S. Code provisions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This legislation introduces no broad amendments to existing statutes. It creates a new, one-time authorization for a Congressional Gold Medal under standard procedures for such honors (similar to past awards for other groups or events). It expands recognition to include collective U.S. rescuers from 1933–1945, building on the established framework for national medals without altering core laws like those governing the Treasury or Holocaust Museum operations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Involves the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint in design, striking, and funding; directs the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to receive and manage the medal, potentially increasing its role in public education.
- Citizens: Provides symbolic national recognition to rescuers and their descendants; may encourage awareness of Holocaust rescue efforts and ongoing refugee aid by existing organizations.
- International Relations: Focuses on U.S. domestic history with no direct foreign policy changes, though it highlights U.S. involvement in European refugee relief during World War II.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. citizens and organizations involved in Holocaust rescue and relief efforts (1933–1945).
- The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- Congress (as the awarding body).
- The Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint.
- Descendants of rescuers and the broader public interested in Holocaust history.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill aligns with Congress's authority to issue medals as commemorative honors, raising no apparent constitutional concerns. It is a symbolic measure with minimal fiscal impact (limited to medal production costs), emphasizing historical acknowledgment over new policy or enforcement mechanisms.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 2026-06-23: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- American Rescuers of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-23 — PDF (6 pages)