HR 3830119th CongressIntroduced

American Patriots of WWII through Service with the Canadian and British Armed Forces Gold Medal Act of 2025

Introduced: Jun 6, 2025

Veterans Affairs

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, titled the American Patriots of WWII through Service with the Canadian and British Armed Forces Gold Medal Act of 2025, would authorize a Congressional Gold Medal (a high-profile, symbolic award) to be given to all United States nationals who voluntarily joined the Canadian and British armed forces and their supporting entities during World War II. The medal would be struck by the Secretary of the Treasury, designed with inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary, and presented by the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. After award, the medal would be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with a sense that it may be displayed elsewhere as well. The bill also allows the Treasury to strike bronze duplicate medals to cover costs. The bill includes extensive findings that recount the history of Americans who joined Canadian and British forces (and related organizations) during WWII, emphasizing groups such as the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force, the Eagle Squadrons, the BCATP, the ATA, WASP, and others, to justify formal recognition. Notably, the legislation does not specify a funding source for the awards beyond authorizing the Treasury to strike medals, and it envisions a single gold medal issued to all eligible individuals.

Key Points

1Scope of eligibility: Authors propose awarding a single Congressional Gold Medal to all United States nationals who voluntarily joined the Canadian and British Armed Forces and their supporting entities during World War II.
2Medal design and distribution: The Secretary of the Treasury would design and strike the gold medal; the President pro tempore and the Speaker would arrange for its award.
3Display and research: The Smithsonian Institution would receive the medal after award for display and research, with a sense that it may be loaned to other display venues.
4Duplicates in bronze: The Secretary may issue bronze duplicate medals for sale to cover costs.
5Legal status and classification: Medals would be treated as national medals under U.S. law (title 31 U.S.C.) and as numismatic items, clarifying their status and potential handling in catalogs and collections.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: United States nationals who volunteered for Canadian or British military service (and their supporting entities) during World War II. This would formally recognize a broad, cross-border group that historically operated outside standard U.S. military channels.Secondary group/area affected: Families, veterans’ organizations, historians, educators, and researchers who study World War II, Allied cooperation, and transnational military service; museums and archival institutions that preserve veterans’ histories.Additional impacts: The bill could influence national memory and commemoration of WWII, bolster public awareness of lesser-known Allied volunteers, and establish a formal, symbolic acknowledgment tied to a prominent national award. The absence of a specified funding provision means the practical aspects—costs of striking the medal, administration, and ongoing display—would depend on future appropriations or Treasury resources. The broad eligibility language may raise questions about verification and scope of who qualifies as a “United States national” and what is considered a “supporting entity.”

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