S. 567 — First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act

This section states congressional findings regarding the recruitment of nearly 200 enslaved men of African heritage and Indigenous descent into the First Rhode Island Regiment in 1778—who were freed upon enlistment—their service through 1783, heroism at the Battle of Rhode Island on August 28, 1778, and post-war challenges, and lists at least 64 named soldiers from the regiment.

This section authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal, on behalf of Congress, to the First Rhode Island Regiment collectively in recognition of their service during the Revolutionary War; directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal with appropriate design; and requires its presentation to the Rhode Island State Library for display and research (with a sense of Congress that it also be displayed at other locations associated with the regiment).

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 thereof, 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 31, United States Code.

This section authorizes the charge of necessary amounts against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund to pay the costs of medals struck under this Act. The section also requires deposit of amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.