H.R. 821 — Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings on the World War II internment of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans under Executive Order 9066 and Civilian Exclusion Order 34; Fred Korematsu's arrest, conviction, and two-year detention; the Supreme Court's 6-3 upholding of his conviction in Korematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214 (1944); dissenting opinions labeling it the "legalization of racism" and a "loaded weapon"; and the 1983 overturning of his conviction based on Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. §552) disclosures of government suppression of evidence showing no military necessity.

This section authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make arrangements for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal of appropriate design to Fred Korematsu in recognition of his contributions to civil rights, loyalty and patriotism to the Nation, and dedication to justice and equality. The Secretary of the Treasury must strike the medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, including an image and the name "Fred Korematsu"; following presentation, the medal is given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with a sense of Congress that it be made available elsewhere, particularly at the National Portrait Gallery or other Smithsonian-affiliated locations.

This section authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal struck pursuant to 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, and (2) numismatic items for purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 3, United States Code.

This section authorizes the use of amounts from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, as necessary, to pay the costs of striking medals under this Act and requires deposit of proceeds from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 into that fund.