S. 498 — United States Colored Troops Congressional Gold Medal Act

This section states congressional findings recognizing the service of African Americans in the Union Army (approximately 200,000 men) and Navy (19,000 men and 20% of enlisted force) during the Civil War, including their roles as nurses, cooks, spies, and scouts; establishment of the United States Colored Troops; award of 18 Medals of Honor to USCT members and 8 to sailors; and existing memorials authorized by P.L. 102-412 and the African American Civil War Museum.

This section authorizes the posthumous presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a Congressional Gold Medal of appropriate design to African Americans who served collectively with Union forces during the Civil War, in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service. 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 be displayed at locations associated with the United States Colored Troops.

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 all medals struck under this Act as (1) national medals for purposes of 31 U.S.C. chapter 51, and (2) numismatic items for purposes of the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund (31 U.S.C. 5134). (Thus, the U.S. Mint may produce, administer, sell, and manage such medals using the revolving fund, which covers related expenses such as capital, personnel, equipment, marketing, and facility improvements without fiscal year limitation.)

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