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130:. The practice soon extended to individuals in all walks of life and in the late 20th century also to groups. The congressional medal seeks to honor those, individually or as a group, "who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after the achievement."
32:
205:(1958 for the "Nuclear Navy" and 1982 for his entire career), Staff Sergeant Warner Katz (Office of Strategic Services and Merrill's Marauders WW2 also the first Merrill's Marauder to kill a Japanese Soldier), Ranger Randall Ching and Ranger Raymond Lee (2020 for serving in WW2 as a Chinese-American and 2022 for serving as a US army ranger).
174:, Congress broadened the scope of the medal to include actors, authors, entertainers, musicians, pioneers in aeronautics and space, explorers, lifesavers, notables in science and medicine, athletes, humanitarians, public servants, and foreign recipients. The medal is normally awarded to persons, but in 1979 the
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to specifically commemorate the person and achievement for which the medal is awarded. Medals are therefore different in appearance, and there is no standard design. Congressional Gold Medals are considered non-portable, meaning that they are not meant to be worn on a uniform or other clothing, but
133:
There is no general statutory scheme for creation of the award: when a
Congressional Gold Medal is deemed appropriate, Congress by legislative action provides for the creation of each medal by passing a specific law to that effect. Each chamber of Congress (the House and the Senate) also imposes
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versions of the medals are struck for sale by the U.S. Mint, and may be available in both larger and smaller sizes. In at least one case, the John Wayne
Congressional Medal, private dealers bought large numbers of the bronze version. They were then
138:. Thus, there are generally fewer gold medals than presidential medals. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement. As of November 29, 2023, 184 people, events, or institutions have been awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
676:
A Description of the Medals of
Washington; and of Other Objects of Interest in the Museum of the Mint. Illustrated, to Which Are Added Biographical Notices of the Directors of the Mint from 1792 to the year
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allowing the
Secretary of the Navy to authorize—at his discretion—the wearing of commemorative or other special awards on Navy or Marine Corps uniforms, in military-sized form.
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A difference between a
Congressional Gold Medal and a Presidential Medal of Freedom is that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded in the discretion of the
123:. The Gold Medal seeks to impart the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.
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Per committee rules, legislation bestowing a
Congressional Gold Medal upon a recipient must be co-sponsored by two-thirds of the membership of both the
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super-majority sponsorship rules to begin consideration. Each medal is ordered to be appropriately designed-uniquely and cast in gold by the
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In rare instances, miniature versions have been made or converted for wear on clothing, suspended from a ribbon. Examples are the
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The congressional practice of issuing gold medals to occasionally honor recipients began with members of the military during the
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for the men who completed the first transatlantic flight in May 1919. The latter was authorized in 1935 by
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as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. The
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63:"National appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions".
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479:"Congressional Gold Medal Recipients | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives"
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217:, while Congressional Gold Medals are awarded by an Act of Congress which becomes law.
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Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative
Process, and Issues for Congress
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162:. Although the first recipients were military figures who participated in the
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As of 2021, at least 7 people had been awarded more than one gold medal:
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for extraordinary accomplishment in United States space exploration.
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326:, a military decoration for extreme bravery in action, and from the
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became the first organization to be honored with a gold medal.
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The
Medallic History of the United States of America 1776–1876
572:"Merrill's Marauder Hall of Fame Website – SSG Warner Katz"
146:
Since the
American Revolution, Congress has commissioned
234:
Senate
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
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Awards and decorations of the United States government
197:(1846, 1847, and 1848 for the Mexican–American War),
319:and resold to the public for a significant profit.
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733:Legislative branch of the United States government
698:Loubat, J. F. and Jacquemart, Jules, Illustrator,
322:The Congressional Gold Medal is distinct from the
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728:Civil awards and decorations of the United States
554:"Library of Congress Interview with Warner Katz"
398:. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service
251:A Congressional Gold Medal is designed by the
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16:Award bestowed by the United States Congress
344:List of Congressional Gold Medal recipients
418:"US Senate – Awards, Honors, & Medals"
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21:
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228:before their respective committees—the
201:(1928 and 1936 for polar exploration),
590:"Together We Served – SSG Warner Katz"
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506:"Congressional Gold Medal Recipients"
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230:House Committee on Financial Services
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654:"Congressional Space Medal of Honor"
594:Together We Served – SSG Warner Katz
453:Congressional Gold Medals, 1776–2016
718:Congressional Gold Medal recipients
328:Congressional Space Medal of Honor
301:Tooltip Public Law (United States)
288:First Byrd expedition of 1928–1930
44:officer to be awarded a gold medal
14:
451:"Congressional Research Service,
154:was first awarded in 1776 by the
119:. It is bestowed by vote of the
636:"John Wayne Congressional Medal"
619:. 1936. p. 162 – via
460:. Congressional Research Service
671:Snowden, James Ross (1809–1878)
610:United States Statutes at Large
576:Merrill's Marauder Hall of Fame
284:Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal
215:President of the United States
1:
117:Presidential Medal of Freedom
615:. Vol. 49. Washington:
36:Etching of medal awarded to
156:Second Continental Congress
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723:Awards established in 1776
682:J. B. Lippincott & Co.
365:Congressional Bronze Medal
360:Congressional Silver Medal
341:
107:is the oldest and highest
389:Straus, Jacob R. (2018).
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222:House of Representatives
105:Congressional Gold Medal
71:United States of America
25:Congressional Gold Medal
267:, the Jarvis Medal for
424:. United States Senate
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121:United States Congress
80:United States Congress
242:
245:Charles A. Lindbergh
191:Mexican–American War
172:Mexican–American War
558:Library of Congress
455:CRS Report RL30076"
286:for the men of the
275:for the men of the
236:—will consider it.
209:Process of awarding
164:American Revolution
128:American Revolution
694:List of recipients
656:. 31 January 2023.
370:Thanks of Congress
256:rather displayed.
253:United States Mint
249:
176:American Red Cross
136:United States Mint
640:www.coinbooks.org
483:history.house.gov
243:Medal awarded to
203:Hyman G. Rickover
199:Lincoln Ellsworth
189:and 1848 for the
160:George Washington
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42:Continental Navy
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330:, presented by
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273:Jeannette Medal
269:David H. Jarvis
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38:John Paul Jones
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342:Main article:
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324:Medal of Honor
261:Cardenas Medal
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195:Zachary Taylor
185:(1814 for the
183:Winfield Scott
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109:civilian award
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76:Presented by
402:16 February
317:gold plated
187:War of 1812
168:War of 1812
158:to General
148:gold medals
60:Awarded for
40:, the only
712:Categories
621:Wikisource
525:2024-04-01
488:2021-06-24
464:2017-03-01
376:References
338:Recipients
292:NC-4 Medal
290:, and the
280:expedition
278:Jeannette
673:(1861).
349:See also
232:and the
224:and the
170:and the
310:Often,
297:Pub. L.
247:in 1930
142:History
111:in the
68:Country
625:
612:
312:bronze
303:
282:, the
271:, the
226:Senate
166:, the
458:(PDF)
396:(PDF)
305:74–43
152:medal
19:Award
677:1851
430:2021
404:2018
332:NASA
263:for
103:The
89:1776
50:Type
617:GPO
193:),
97:184
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
