H.R. 7317 — Golden Thirteen Congressional Gold Medal Act

This section states congressional findings on the "Golden Thirteen," 16 Black Navy enlisted men who in January 1944 completed accelerated eight-week officer training (normal length: 16 weeks) at Great Lakes, Illinois, achieving a 100% passage rate and the highest average exam score in Navy history at that time (3.89 out of 4.0). It notes that the Navy commissioned 12 as officers and 1 as chief warrant officer—due to an anticipated 25% attrition rate—while returning the other 3 to enlisted ranks without explanation, and lists the names of all 16 men.

This section authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal of appropriate design to the Golden Thirteen (i.e., the first 13 African-American U.S. Navy officers, commissioned in 1944 after overcoming racial barriers in naval aviation training). The Secretary of the Treasury must strike the medal, which is then given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with a sense of Congress that it also be displayed at locations associated with the Golden Thirteen.

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 chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code (i.e., authorizing their production by the U.S. Mint), and (2) numismatic items for purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code (i.e., authorizing their sale).

This section authorizes charges against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund (the Mint's revolving fund for operations) for costs of medals struck pursuant to this Act and directs deposit of proceeds from sales of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 into the fund.