North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act
- Bill Number
- S. 645
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-09: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T11:38:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to honor the collective efforts of individuals and communities who supported U.S. troops during World War II by volunteering or donating items to the North Platte Canteen in North Platte, Nebraska, from December 25, 1941, to April 1, 1946.
Key Provisions
- Findings: The bill details the canteen's history, noting it served about 6 million troops with food and hospitality from over 55,000 volunteers across 125 communities in Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. It operated without federal funding, raised $137,000 through local efforts, and received a U.S. Army award in 1943.
- Medal Award: Authorizes the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate to present a single gold medal of appropriate design to represent the volunteers and communities collectively.
- Design and Handling: The Secretary of the Treasury creates the medal and transfers it after presentation to the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte for display and research.
- Duplicates: Permits the minting and sale of bronze duplicate medals to cover production costs.
- Funding: Charges costs to the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund, with proceeds from duplicate sales returned to the same fund.
- Status: Designates the medals as national medals and numismatic items under existing federal law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This act introduces no broad amendments to current statutes. It follows standard procedures for Congressional Gold Medals by authorizing a new medal under existing Treasury authority (chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code) and treating duplicates as numismatic items.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Limited effect on the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint, which handle design, production, and sales using existing funds without new appropriations.
- Citizens: Provides public recognition of historical volunteerism; bronze duplicates may be purchased by individuals or groups.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the measure focuses on domestic World War II home-front contributions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The volunteers, donors, and communities from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas who supported the canteen.
- The Lincoln County Historical Museum, which receives the gold medal.
- Congress, responsible for presentation.
- The U.S. Mint and Treasury Department, tasked with production and distribution.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications Congress exercises its authority to award medals as a form of national recognition. The bill emphasizes collective rather than individual honors and aligns with prior resolutions recognizing the canteen's role, without raising constitutional concerns or altering legal frameworks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (76)
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD], Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV] and 26 more
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-09: Held at the desk.
- 2026-06-09: Received in the House.
- 2026-06-09: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2026-06-08: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2669; text: CR S2669)
- 2026-06-08: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-06-08: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-06-08: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-02-20: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 2025-02-20: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act — issued 2026-06-08 — PDF (8 pages)
- North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act — issued 2025-02-20 — PDF (6 pages)