North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act
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The bill would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the individuals and communities who volunteered at or donated to the North Platte Canteen in North Platte, Nebraska, which served millions of U.S. troops during World War II.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a single Congressional Gold Medal honoring, collectively, the individuals and communities who volunteered or donated items to the North Platte Canteen in North Platte, Nebraska, during World War II. The Treasury Secretary would design and strike the medal, which would then go to the Lincoln County Historical Museum for display and research.
The bill would also let the Treasury Secretary strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs, with sale proceeds and production costs run through the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. It makes no other change to law and creates no new ongoing program.
Key provisions
- 1Would direct congressional leadership to arrange presentation of a gold medal honoring North Platte Canteen volunteers and donor communities
- 2Would require the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the gold medal
- 3Would require the medal be given to the Lincoln County Historical Museum for display and research after presentation
- 4Would authorize the Treasury Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicate medals to cover production costs
- 5Would classify all medals struck under the Act as national medals and numismatic items
- 6Would authorize charging medal production costs against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund and depositing sale proceeds there
Who would be affected
The Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska, which would receive and display the medal; the Treasury Department and U.S. Mint, which would design, strike, and sell medals; and members of the public who could purchase bronze duplicates.
Why it matters
The medal would formally and permanently recognize the roughly 55,000 volunteers from over 100 communities who supported the North Platte Canteen's World War II troop-support effort. Beyond the honor and the museum display, the bill has no operational or regulatory effect on the public.
What would change
Agencies directed to act
Funding and costs
- such amounts as may be necessary
to pay for the costs of striking the gold and bronze medals
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Held at the desk.
Official CRS summary
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This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the individuals and communities that provided financial and other support for the North Platte Canteen in North Platte, Nebraska, during World War II.
Legislative subjects
Armed Forces and National Security; Congressional tributes; Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers; Nebraska; U.S. history