H.R. 1437 — Buffalo Soldiers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025

This section establishes the short title as the “Buffalo Soldiers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025.”

This section states congressional findings regarding the history and military service of the Buffalo Soldiers, including the creation of six all-Black cavalry and infantry regiments in 1866, their consolidation into the 9th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 24th Infantry Regiment, and 25th Infantry Regiment, and their service in the American West, national parks, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. It also notes that the Army remained segregated until 1951, that Buffalo Soldiers received Congressional Medal of Honor awards for valor, and that a Congressional Gold Medal would be an appropriate recognition of their service and role in advancing military inclusivity.

This section authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the Buffalo Soldier regiments, authorized by Congress in 1866 to serve in the United States Armed Forces, in recognition of their service. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions determined by the Secretary. Following the award, the medal must be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture of the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, and it expresses the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the medal available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations and events associated with the Buffalo Soldiers.

This section authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal produced under section 3 at a price sufficient to cover the full cost of production, including labor, materials, dies, machinery use, and overhead expenses.

This section establishes the medals struck under this Act as national medals under chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code, and treats all such medals as numismatic items under 31 U.S.C. §§ 5134 and 5136. (Thus, the medals are subject to the statutory framework governing the production and sale of national medals and other numismatic items.)

This section authorizes the costs of striking the medals under this Act to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund and requires that amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 be deposited into that fund.