H.R. 4621 — 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion Gold Medal Act

This section sets forth 13 congressional findings on the history and contributions of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion—an all-African-American unit formed in 1942 that provided air defense during the D-Day invasion at Normandy on June 6, 1944, including as the only U.S. barrage balloon unit in France and the first segregated African-American unit to land on Omaha and Utah Beaches. The findings highlight the unit's innovations and heroism (e.g., downing a German aircraft and Corporal Waverly B. Woodson's treatment of approximately 200 wounded soldiers despite his own injuries), its 110 days of service in France, subsequent Pacific deployment, commendation by General Eisenhower, and the need for national recognition following the 2021 death of its last survivor.

This section authorizes the presentation of a single Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress, to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion collectively in recognition of their heroism and bravery during the D-Day invasion and contributions to Allied success in World War II. The Secretary of the Treasury must strike the medal of suitable design, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, after which it is given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with a sense of Congress that it be shown at sites associated with D-Day, World War II, and African-American servicemembers.

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

This section designates medals struck pursuant to this Act as (1) national medals for purposes of 31 U.S.C. chapter 51 and (2) numismatic items for purposes of 31 U.S.C. sections 5134 and 5136. (Thus, the U.S. Mint may produce, control designs for, and sell such medals as official government numismatics.)

This section authorizes charges against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund for the costs of medals struck under this Act and directs deposit of proceeds from the sale of duplicate bronze medals into the fund.